Concerning the Gh500,000 "killing fee" for the presidential primaries, CDD-Ghana condemns the NDC.

 

Concerning the Gh500,000 "killing fee" for the presidential primaries, CDD-Ghana condemns the NDC.

The opposition National Democratic Congress has been under fire from the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD)-Ghana for the astronomical filing cost they have set for their presidential primary.

Following NDC's defense of the Ghc500,000 cost for potential flag bearer candidates ahead of the 2024 general elections despite reservations about the amount, CDD made a statement.

Speaking to the media, NDC General Secretary Fiifi Kwetey listed several justifications for the 500,000 Ghana cedis cost, including the present growing inflation rates compared to the previous four years.

Paul Aborampah-Mensah, the Programs Manager for CDD-Ghana, however, said that the filing cost for the opposition NDC was excessive while discussing the sum on Starr News with Naa Dedei Tettey.

"You don't expect me to praise them now that it has been raised since we objected when they put it at Ghc300,000. increased by almost 50%. The same financial difficulties are the reason why these people are being asked to cough up Ghc500,000. How can an individual who is running for office contend with these economic difficulties if the nation and country as a whole are having trouble?

Even if he coughs up the cash from his investments, those investments are also in trouble. So why do we burden the individual when the nation is unable to handle it? Thus, it has been the standard justification for me no matter what we do. Take a look at the arguments made in some of the press releases from the beginning of democracy in the fourth republic when they announce the entry fee and competition fee for their competitors. Nothing has changed because it's the same argument, said Mr. Aborampah-Mensah.

The Programs Manager reiterated calls for a discussion on political party financing and issued a warning that current practice is detrimental to the fight against corruption.

There are three possibilities. The first is that there is a plan to eliminate or reduce the number of competitions. Two, either they intend to influence the system to benefit some individuals. As a result, the harder it is to mobilize resources, the higher the cost is set. The party doesn't care where supporters mobilize it since we operate in an unaccountable system. Even the political parties themselves are unable to pass the necessary accounting demanded by the country's elections. How can we track people wherever they spend GHC 500,000? We are dealing with a systemic difficulty here when we talk about Ghc 500,000. -Citifmonline