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Senior Political Science Lecturer, Dr. Kwame Asah Asante has supported the Electoral Commission for pegging its filing fee for Presidential and Parliamentary nominations at Ghc 100,000 and Ghc 10,000 respectively.

The Electoral Commission (EC) announced the filing fee on Monday, September 14, 2020 and according to the Commission's Chairperson, Madam Jean Mensa, aspirants are obliged to make a deposit in the form of bankers draft. 

"The Presidential Candidate will be required to deposit an amount of Ghc 100,000 in a form of a Bankers draft to the Commission, Parliamentary Candidates will be required to deposit Ghc 10,000 in a form of a Bankers draft as well. We wish all candidates for both presidential and parliamentary elections well, we trust that the nomination process will be efficient, seemless and orderly...", she said while addressing the media at the Commission's ''Let Your Vote Count'' press conference in Accra.

The aspirants are to access the forms online via the EC's website https://ec.gov.gh/political-parties/ and deadline for submission is from Monday, 5th October to Friday, 9th October, 2020 between 9 am and 5 pm each day.

Following the EC's announcement, some political parties and commentators have argued that the filing fee is expensive and asked the EC to reduce it.

But Dr. Asah Asante thinks otherwise and urged the EC not to reduce the fee.

Speaking to host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo', Dr. Asah Asante stated that for a person who wants to become President or Parliamentarian, it should not be a problem to pay the amount.

He likened it to paying a bride price saying one doesn't marry somebody's daughter without paying the price and that the serious ones will always find a way to pay it.

In same respect, he argued, if the political parties or individuals are serious about contesting the elections, they should foot the filing fee.

"I don't fault the Electoral Commission. It's given its filing fee. The person who is prepared should go and file his or her nomination. If you want to marry my daughter, I will give you a list and if you can, then take the list and marry her. If you can't, just leave the list and my daughter alone," he stated.