More of the smaller political parties in Ghana are kicking against the GHS100,000 filing fee for presidential aspirants.
The fee was increased by 100 percent from the 2016 figure.
Nana Ofori Owusu, the National Chairman of the Progressive People’s Party, said the Electoral Commission’s decision was insensitive and “at variance to the economic conditions of Ghana right now.”
“Are we saying the EC is not part of Ghana’s economy or are they not recognising the situation we are in that we have stagnated growth in our economy,” he asked on Eyewitness News.
Mr. Owusu said his party expected a reduction from GHS 50,000 to GHS 25,000.
His party unsuccessfully challenged an increment in filing fees in court back in 2016 when it was raised to GHS50,000.
The party maintains that the EC should not look to profit in the electoral process.
“The Electoral Commission was not set up to be a money-making organisation which is why they are wholly funded and our taxpayers’ money goes to support the work of the Electoral Commission.”
The EC has argued the increment is in tandem with the value of the Cedi.
A Deputy Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Bossman Eric Asare, argued that the GHS100,000 fee was not too far off the value of GHS50,000 in 2016.
But the flagbearer of the All People’s Congress (APC), Hassan Ayariga, however, rubbished this explanation.
“If we should go by the justification of Bossman Asare then I am calling on all public service workers to also ask for increments of their salaries by 100 percent,” he said on Eyewitness News.
Mr. Ayariga also expressed fears that the EC is “selling the presidency to the highest bidder.”
“We will begin to see people with more money than more brains in our political landscape and that is not what we are looking for,” he said.
He also indicated that his party would be urging the commission to reverse the increment.
“I think that we should be very careful and I am 100 percent sure they will reconsider their decision.”
