The biggest opposition party in Ghana New Patriotic Party [NPP] adopted filing fees of GH 16,000 cedi charge on persons who are contesting sitting MPs have been thrown out by members in the diaspora.
Presently, indications are that if the party’s adopted filing fees being charged on those who are contesting sitting MPs are not changed; the party could be soon embroiled in a long and costly legal action which may jeopardize the chances of winning the next election.
This was made known when this reporter tried to solicit the views of some selected staunch NPP members spread across North America comprising the U.S of A and Canada as to whether they are in support of the new charges or kicking against it. Some constitutional experts in the party indicated that charging what they called “discriminatory amount” on candidates competing for the same seats is illegal and are not ready to accept whatsoever unless the party changes course.
The party constitutional experts said the idea of having a level playing field is mandated by the Ghana and the NPP constitution making it important for the party to charge the same fees on all candidates therefore warning the party that,” increasing the filing fees which was GH 500 cedis in the last elections by 3,200 per cent is absolutely unacceptable and must be reduced significantly”.
Sharing his opinion, Prince Ofosu Sefa, NPP Canada branch secretary, disclosed that having consulted people who have run for parliament, it is very expensive prosecuting the general election contest for parliamentary seats therefore it is wrong for the party to make it harder for candidates by making it even more expensive with this new fees.
According to him, many party members are asking national leaders to involve the ordinary members in financing of the party through dues and other donations.
Ofosu Sefa revealed that even last June, Canada Branch had the chance to sit down with the national treasurer Dzifa Ofori and discussed the comprehensive plan on how to raise money from the party’s members but has not seen any follow up action to try this laudable plan.
He advised the party to stop the “short cut” system of raising money for the party through charging high fees on contestants which is creating more burden for MPs, aspiring MPs and contestants at the end of the day making them back out from contributing in diverse ways towards the growth of the party.“Enough of this shot cut strategies in raising funds for the party through charging exorbitant fees on contestants which at the end makes them call for the shorts in the party. In stead of charging huge levies on contestants the party can raise funds through little contributions from ordinary members and supporters” he opined.
Source: Stephen A. Quaye, Toronto-Canada.