The National Democratic Congress (NDC) says it is unable to criticize the Electoral Commission (EC) on the astronomical increase in both presidential and parliamentary filing fees announced yesterday since it also took the same amount from candidates during its primaries.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) does not have the locus to also complain because it took even more than that for its primaries, General Secretary of the NDC, John Asiedu Nketia has said.
The EC after an Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting Thursday increased the presidential filing fees for the December 7 elections from GH¢10,000 to GH¢50,000 while that of the parliamentary was moved from GH¢1,000 to GH¢10,000.
Some political parties have criticized the astronomical increment.
But John Asiedu Nketia told Onua FM’s morning show, Yen Sempa if “even we political parties took the same amount from our aspirants, why can’t EC take such an amount”.
NPP filing fees
During its primaries, the NPP asked parliamentary aspirants to pay GH¢10,000. Constituencies with sitting MPs were made to pay additional GH¢20,000 as development fees.
For the presidential hopefuls, they paid GH¢10,000 each as nomination fees and GH¢75,000 as filing fees.
NDC filing fees
The NDC charged its parliamentary aspirants GHc10,000 and took GH¢50,000 for the presidential nominees.
“The NPP demanded more than what the EC is demanding during their primaries. NDC also demanded just like what the EC is demanding so talking about it is or criticizing the EC is difficult”, the NDC scribe pointed out.
‘Smaller’ parties
Mr. Asiedu Nketia admitted that “the smaller parties do not have money” but said “we can’t talk for them.”
Refund
The NDC General Secretary explained that “the EC will not squander the money. It is refundable after the elections. If you get a certain percentage after the elections, you are entitle to a refund from the EC and in most cases, we get all the monies back after the elections because we are able to get the 12 and half percent votes that is required by the EC”.
By Kweku Antwi-Otoo/Onua 95.1FM/3news.com