The National Organizer of the NDC, Joshua Akamba, has said the party is open to dialogue over concerns that the filing fee for the January 19, 2018 presidential primary is too expensive.
“Our doors are wide open for anybody that wants to make another suggestion. We are a democratic party. We believe in that,” he said to Citi News.
Nomination forms for the aspirants will cost GH¢20,000, while the filing fee will cost GH¢400,000.
The figure for the filing fee, has been met with complaints by some aspirants.
The campaign team of Professor Joshua Alabi has said it will petition the party for a downward review of the cost of filing fees for aspirants.
In response to this, Mr. Akamba said “they would have to write a petition to the party and ask for a review. Who says that we won’t change our mind? Who says we will stick by it or who says that when they come forward and we discuss it, they will understand that the amount is on the lower side or on the higher side?”
The John Mahama campaign team has said it will count on contributions from supporters to help raise money for the nomination forms and filing fees.
John Mahama is viewed by some observers as the overwhelming favourite and he has some MPs on his side driving a fundraising campaign.
Ninety-four NDC MPs out of the Minority Caucus of 106, endorsed Mr. Mahama as the flagbearer for the 2020 polls prior to his official declaration of intent.
The NDC’s General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia has maintained that the fees were moderate.
He has said the fees will help cater for the expensive cost associated with holding elections.
“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.