Some Members of Parliament of the opposition National Democratic Congress, NDC, who have courted support for the party’s flagbearer hopeful, John Dramani Mahama, have began a public fundraiser to enable their choice of candidate to raise the Ghc 420,000 nomination and filing fee.
It would be recalled that in August 2018, some 94 NDC MPs endorsed the candidature of the former president.
At a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the NDC barely two weeks after the party elected its national executives for the next four years, it was decided that nomination forms for the aspirants will cost GHc 20,000 whereas the filing fee will cost GHc 400,000.
The filing fee for women and persons with disabilities will be GHc 200,000.
But many individuals including some flagbearer aspirants have described the amount as outrageous and have vowed to seek a downward review.
The MPs, who want to be identified as MPs4JM, have indicated that interested persons who wish to support the 2020 campaign of John Mahama should dial *713*2020# on all mobile networks, follow the prompts and make their contribution.
‘Ghc400,000 filing fees for presidential aspirants not outrageous’ – Asiedu Nketia
The National Democratic Congress, NDC, has defended its decision to charge GHC 400,000 as filing fees for aspirants seeking to contest the party’s flagbearer race.
According to the party, the fees will largely help cater for the huge cost associated with holding elections.
Speaking to the media, General Secretary of the NDC Johnson Asiedu Nketia said persons who seek to lead the party should be able to bear the cost.
“If you compare these monies against the cost of organizing the activities we are talking about, you will realize that the party will still have to raise money to supplement whatever will be accruing from these filing fees so I do not see how anybody can say that it is outrageous. NPP three years ago was charging 500,000. We were all with you here in this country, did you complain? And three years on, we are charging GHC 400, 000 and you still say ours is too much? It is perfectly in line that you will charge filing fees to be able to pay for the activity that will elect the Flagbearer, otherwise the alternative will be to charge the party members across board who are vulnerable.”
However, checks by Citi News show that the NPP’s filing fee for presidential aspirants was Ghc85,000 and not Ghc500,000 as claimed by Asiedu Nketia.
We’ll petition for downward review of GHc 400,000 filing fee – Alabi camp
The campaign team of NDC flagbearer aspirant, Professor Joshua Alabi,have given indications that they will petition the party for a downward review of the cost of filing fees for aspirants.
The team believes the GH¢400,000 non-refundable fee announced by the party is on the high side and seems to be a deviation from the party’s social democratic principles.