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The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has announced the filing fee for the December presidential and parliamentary elections.
Following the EC announcement, some presidential candidates from smaller or smaller parties have expressed dissatisfaction with the EC’s decision to charge such an amount as a filing fee. Presidential and parliamentary candidates must pay GH ¢ 100,000 and GH ¢ 10,000, respectively, as filing fees in order for them to qualify for the 2020 general election in December.
However, this has upset some presidential candidates and, as such, has called the fees outrageous.
The founder of All People’s Congress (APC), Hassan Ayariga, has indicated that the conduct of the EC is only to discourage the participation of minor political parties. He stressed that the EC’s action is not acceptable as it places some parties ahead of others.
“We are selling democracy to the highest bidder; This is unacceptable. I hope that the EC will analyze the economic situation and cut our coat according to our size, “said Dr. Ayariga.
He then asked the President of the Electoral Commission, Ms Jean Mensah, to re-examine and review the filing fees.
In support of Hassan Ayariga’s argument, Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG) presidential candidate Kofi Akpaloo asked the EC to review the filing rates of parliamentary candidates.
According to him, GH ¢ 10,000 for parliamentary candidates is too expensive and how does the EC expect their candidates to present themselves? I ask.
“The EC in its bid to discourage the so-called ‘non-serious’ candidates could end up preventing the serious ones from participating. The filing fee is more of an imposition of taxes on applicants than a function performed by the election management body. “The GLP leader added.
However, Mr. Apkaloo is not concerned about GH’s ¢ 100,000 filing fee for presidential candidates. He stated that no self-respecting presidential candidate will complain about the presentation fee of ¢ 100,000 GH
By Samuel Kwaku Boateng Boakye
