Accra, Oct. 20, GNA - Filing of nominations at the Electoral Commission for Election 2004 began on Wednesday but none of the presidential aspirants had filed his papers by noon. None of the parliamentary candidates had also filed his or her papers at the Greater Accra Regional Centre.

The EC has fixed Wednesday and Thursday for the filling of nominations for both the presidential and parliamentary elections. The atmosphere at the EC premises was lively as supporters of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) besieged the area singing and shouting party slogans in anticipation of the appearance of any of their aspirants.

There were indications that President John Agyekum Kufuor, the candidate of the NPP and Professor John Evans Atta Mills, Flag Bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), would file their papers on Thursday.

In separate interviews with the GNA, the Mr Dan Botwe, NPP General Secretary, said Candidate Kufuor would file his nomination papers on Thursday, while Mr Seth Ofori, Special Press Assistant to the NDC Presidential Candidate, said Professor John Evans Atta Mills would also file on Thursday.

Dr Edward Mahama, presidential nominee of the Grand Coalition said he would file on Thursday and Dr Edmund Delle, Leader and Chairman of the Convention People's Party (CPP), also said George Aguddey, the Party's Flag Bearer, would also file on Thursday.

Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, Chairman of the EC, expressed the hope that the parties would not wait until the last day to besiege their premises again.

Ghana News Agency investigations indicate that four parties would contest this year's presidential elections.

They are the ruling NPP, which has President John Agyekum Kufuor, the NDC, which is fielding Prof. Mills, the Convention People's Party (CPP), which has Mr George Aguddey and the Grand Coalition comprising the People's National Convention (PNC), the EGLE and the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP), which has Dr Edward Mahama as the candidate.

A number of people have expressed their desire to contest the presidential poll as independent candidates, but two of them, Alex Hammah and Ramon Akoto have asked for more time to collect signatures from across the country.