NPP Parliamentary Race Not For The Rich; Filing Fees Don't Come From Aspirants Own Pockets

General Secretary of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwabena Agyapong has debunked the notion by some party members that the filing fee for the upcoming Parliamentary Primaries is a bit on the high side and a means to make only the affluent in the party run for a seat in Parlaiment.

According to the NPP Chief Scribe, the filing fee has never come from individual pockets, since candidates who have the potential of winning primaries are always backed by some benefactors in the party.

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the NPP in a meeting last Monday decided on the filing fees for the Parliamentary primaries.

Aspirants seeking to contest the party’s Parliamentary primaries in constituencies with sitting MPs will be required to pay GHC30, 000.

Ten thousand Ghana Cedis (GHC 10, 000) out of the total amount will cover filing fees while 20,000 Cedis will cater for the development fee. Incumbent MPs are however exempted from paying the development fees. 

Though NPP has rescinded its affirmative action decision which was going to guide the party ahead of its Parliamentary Primaries, Kwabena Agyapong revealed on Okay FM’s "Ade Akye Abia" Morning Show that the decision on the filing and the development fees was retained to help the constituencies, the regions and national as a whole.

He said, it was GH¢10, 000 the last time but the figure has been doubled to GH¢20, 000 for those aspirants seeking to contest the party’s Parliamentary primaries in constituencies with sitting MPs with the exception of women, youth and the physically challenged who are to pay 50 per cent of the total amount.

He further explained the decision to make aspirants pay more than the incumbent MPs, saying the incumbent MPs make monthly contributions to the party, coupled with the fact that they also come to the aid of members in their constituents occasionally.

He added “it is only fair to decide this way as those contesting them cannot do it for free especially when they don’t make financial contributions to the party and they only come with their money to contest the sitting MPs”.

Addressing the fees which has been tagged as “for the rich”, the NPP Chief Scribe emphasized that no individual has ever used their personal monies to run campaign and pay filing fees in a contest in the party especially those the party consider winnable candidates.

If you have people who are helping you, I believe you can raise funds for your registration; I want to emphasize that the registration or filing fee is not from their own pockets. It is never done, otherwise nobody can run a campaign in this country; people always contribute to help in running campaigns for political parties and individuals. I want people to understand that and those contesting should be prominent candidates that can attract support from people logistically and financially,” he added.