A former General Secretary of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Nana Yaa Jantuah, has asked the Electoral Commission (EC) to consider reducing its presidential and parliamentary filing fees for parties classified as “smaller”.
The filing fee is currently GH₵ 100,000 for presidential and GH₵ 10, 000 for parliamentary.
Speaking in an interview, Nana Yaa Jantuah said it is problematic for some political parties to be described as smaller and made to pay the same fees as their counterparts.
“So, if you people think we are small, all of us, then the fees should be reduced so that the bigger ones would pay and we would pay less. As long as we pay the same, as long as we have the same requirements in law, we are not small”.
She added that electoral performance should not be used as the sole criterion to determine whether a party is considered “small” or “big.”
The former General Secretary of the CPP further criticized the media for constantly focusing on the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), neglecting other political parties.
“Even today, we have Hon. Alan Kyerematen also in the race; it is as if he is not anywhere. When you look at the Agriculture minister, look at the things that he is saying; they are headlines everywhere. What he is saying is not pleasant,” she lamented on Joy News.
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The Electoral Commission recently announced the nomination fees for the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections.
According to the EC, candidates vying for the position of President will be required to make a payment of one hundred thousand Ghana Cedis (GH¢100,000.00) at the time of submitting their nomination forms.
However, female candidates and persons with disabilities are required to pay seventy-five thousand Ghana Cedis (GH¢75,000).
The decision aligns with the EC’s efforts to promote inclusivity and gender equality in the political arena.
This reduction is also seen as a strategic initiative to address the financial barriers that often deter female aspirants from contesting in presidential elections.
The Commission added that candidates vying for the position of Member of Parliament will be required to make a payment of ten thousand Ghana Cedis (GH¢10,000.00) to the Returning Officer of the Constituency at the time of submitting their nomination forms.
The EC further said interested candidates could download nomination forms from the EC’s website from Friday, August 2, 2024, while nomination forms will be accepted between 9:00 am and 12:00 noon, and again from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm each day during the nomination period.
Payment shall be by banker’s draft and addressed to the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission.
Political parties are now gearing up for the electoral process, with many expected to reassess their candidate selection strategies in light of the new fee structure.
Aspiring candidates are required to submit their nominations along with the filing fee by the deadline set by the EC.