<<Print>>

"Why do you complain?", Member of Parliament (MP) for Tarkwa-Nsuaem constituency, Hon. George Mireku Duker asks political parties opposing the filing fee of the Electoral Commission (EC).

The Electoral Commission has announced a filing fee of GH¢ 100,000 for nomination to contest Presidential seat while those interested in Parliamentary position are to pick their forms for a fee of  GH¢ 10,000.

According to Chairperson of the Commission, Madam Jean Mensa, the candidates 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..." , Madam Jean Mensa said during the EC's ''Let Your Vote Count''.

The EC has set deadline for submission of the nomination forms, which are accessible on the EC website, to be from Monday, 5th October to Friday, 9th October, 2020.

This notwithstanding, some political party members have dissented to the fee, particularly for the Presidential aspirants.

The Progressive Peoples Party (PPP) says the GH¢ 100,000 is exorbitant and some commentators as well as politicians have also called on the EC to reduce the amount.

"They have taken this decision without consulting IPAC [Inter Party Advisory Committee] . . . we find it a bit troubling that this decision has come at this time.

" . . we are in a difficult moment in our history and it is important if the EC is making decisions, it must factor all the economic challenges people are going through in this country. We should not fix fees at that high level and say that becoming a President is a tough thing or a serious thing and so anyone who expresses interest must cough some high fees," National Secretary of the PPP, Papa Kow Ackon said.

Reacting to the issue during a panel discussion on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo', Hon. George Mireku Duker wondered why the parties are complaining about the filing fee when they pay more or equally same amount in their internal politics.

He cited the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) charging their aspirants for flagbearer position  GH¢300,000.

"The NDC initially quoted an amount of Ghc 400,000; it took the likes of Alban Bagbin to oppose the amount and it was later reduced to Ghc 300,000. If you can charge 300,000, why do you complain about the EC filing fee of 100,000?"

He also alluded to the previous Electoral Commission led by Madam Charlotte Osei raising the filing fee for Presidential aspirants from Ghc 5000 to a whopping Ghc 50,000 which, to him, is about 200 percent increase and yet the parties filed their nomination.

To Hon. Mireku Duker, the political parties should portray a consistent behaviour, stop criticizing the EC but go ahead to pay the specified amounts for this year's contest.

" . . you're not being inconsistent and then you're not being fair . . . As leaders of this country or someone who wants to be a leader, you need to be consistent in your statement irrespective of your political affiliation," he said.