The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has announced the fees for its respective party positions. Thus anyone, aspiring to become an executive of the party would need to consider their pocket, or financial status before committing. Perhaps, it’s only the sitting executives that could have the muscle to pay easily what the party is charging aspirants.
The latest within the financial charges in the party’s executive nominations is following and confirming a pattern where parties in power charge exorbitantly for party positions from the electoral levels to the presidential nominations. That contentious riddle has never; and it seems can never be resolved; since it became a major concern within the public space to the extent that it even induced debates, within the public realm.
What has preceded or exceeded the discussion has mainly been the fact that many party members and officials take advantage of their government in power to make really good money; and therefore can afford any charges or fees put out there by their party, in relation to the filing of executive party positions. But whether such a perennial practice is best for our governance system has never been answered and many are not bothered to take it up as an issue.
This is because it’s one issue that is two-sides of the same coin: the NDC benefits just as the NPP and so who could be bold enough to cast the first stone? The parties will explain that these fees are necessary because they needed the money or the fees to run the party machinery. The counter argument to this preposition had been, so when the party was in opposition what and how were funds raised to run the party?
Certainly, such lame argument goes to confirm the popular suspicion that there is so much corruption in any given administration at any point in time that people who prior to their party winning power, struggled to make ends meet, suddenly become money bags that they can afford any amount charged for their party positions that they are interested.
In 2014, prior to the 2016 general elections, the fee for the NPP’s chairmanship portfolio was GH10,000.00 and that really attracted intense criticism within the party and other elements outside of the party. It’s believed some very good materials who would have helped with the cause of the NPP failed in their bid because of the expensive nomination fees.
The NPP says this time round, those aspiring to be chairmen should be prepared to pay GH20,000.00 before their eligibility is guaranteed. For an aspirant like Stephen Ntim, maybe paying the amount may not be the issue; but his concern would be how he breaks his chairmanship voodoo or jinx. He’s in his fifth attempt at the NPP top position, since the days of Jake Obetsebi Lamptey.
If he should pay the GH20, 000 nomination fee without success, then perhaps the party should consider rewarding him for being one of the largest financial contributor to the NPP. Two others aspiring for the position are Stephen Asamoah Boateng and Prof. Ameyaw Akumfi.
Asamoah Boteng has officially, informed the President of his resignation from public office to concentrate on his chairmanship bid and he is expected to pay GH20, 000 nomination fees if he goes through the vetting process successfully; same as the former Ports and Harbours Minister, Prof Ameyaw Akumfi. Perhaps there could be other candidates for the chairmanship race and only time, would prove that. The case of the General Secretary attracts GH15,000; while those below, range from GH10,000 down to GH5,000.Â
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