A social commentator has said that the GH¢10,000 filing fee for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary primaries is “cheap”.
Eric Aboagye explained on Kessben Television’s morning show Ade3akye Abia that looking at the status of parliamentary members GH¢ 10,000 is not much for them.
Mr Aboagye added that the fee should be exorbitant so as scare away “the nobodies”.
If the fee is cheap, then anybody can stand. But if it’s high then only those who are successful can stand and these are the kind of people we want in parliament,” he added.
The National Executive Committee of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has approved the filing fee for its parliamentary aspirants.
According to a statement from its Secretary General Kwabena Agyepong, each parliamentary aspirant in orphan constituencies will pay GH¢10,000. Each sitting Member of Parliament seeking re-election will also pay GH¢10,000.
The timeline for the Parliamentary primaries is as follows:
I. Opening of Nomination – March 30, 2015
II. Closing of Nomination – April 10, 2015
III. Vetting of Aspirants – April 13 to 17, 2015
IV. Announcement of vetting results – April 20, 2015
V. Appeals at Regional level, if any – April 20 to 24, 2015
VI. Appeals at National level, if any – April 24 to 30, 2015
VII. Notice of poll – April 24, 2015
VIII. Election Day – May 24, 2015
By: Ben Bliss Elom
