General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Asiedu Nketia has hit out at people criticizing the party for charging Ghc400,000 as filing fees for aspirants seeking to contest the party’s flagbearer race.
Asiedu Nketia says people are not being fair with the NDC regarding the charges because the NPP charged as high as Ghc500,000 three years ago.
According to the party, the fees will largely help cater for the huge cost associated with holding elections.
The NDC set a filing fee of GHC 400,000 and an additional GHc 20,000 as fees for nomination forms for their upcoming presidential primaries scheduled for the 19th of January 2019.
Speaking to the media, General Secretary of the NDC Johnson Asiedu Nketia said persons who seek to lead the party should be able to bear the cost.
 “If you compare these monies against the cost of organizing the activities we are talking about, you will realize that the party will still have to raise money to supplement whatever will be accruing from these filing fees so I do not see how anybody can say that it is outrageous. NPP three years ago was charging 500,000. We were all with you here in this country, did you complain?
“And three years on, we are charging GHC 400, 000 and you still say ours is too much? It is perfectly in line that you will charge filing fees to be able to pay for the activity that will elect the Flagbearer, otherwise, the alternative will be to charge the party members across board who are vulnerable.â€
Checks, however, revealed that the NPP’s filing fee for presidential aspirants was Ghc85,000 and not Ghc500,000 as claimed by Asiedu Nketia.
The filing fee for women and persons with disabilities will be GHc 200,000.
Former President John Dramani Mahama; the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Bagbin; a former Finance Minister, a former Deputy Finance Minister, Kweku Ricketts-Hagan are among the notables who have declared intent to contest the primaries.
Others who have stepped up include the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies, Accra, Prof. Joshua Alabi; a former Minister of Trade and Industry, Ekwow Spio-Garbrah; a former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Health Insurance Authority, Sylvester Mensah; a former MCE of Kumasi, Kojo Bonsu; Nurudeen Iddrisu; Stephen Atubiga and Goosie Tanoh.
Read also: NDC presidential election set for Jan.19, filing fee is GHc400,000
Ghana News: Latest news in Ghana