A Flagbearer hopeful, of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Stephen Atubiga has raised concerns over the party’s decision to charge GHC400,000 as filing fee for presidential aspirants.
He’s of the view that the said amount will deter potential and capable persons who would want to lead the party into the 2020 general elections but do not have that amount to seal his candidature.
According to him, the NDC known for it care and love for the poor and vulnerable in society will begin to lose credibility and erode all the gains it has made as a democratic party.
Speaking to Kasapa News, he said “Money shouldn’t lead us, the party is paramount. I have served this party from 1992 up to date. My family have sacrificed for this party. The foundation of this party is about the poor and marginalized. Jerry John Rawlings didn’t start this party on the premise of making money but I can tell you that, it new king new law”.
He added: “If you should calculate the amount, is close to $100,000, which is just filing fee and buying of the form, I will be surprised that an aspirant will go ahead to pay this fees not asking what we are doing to this party. Being a leader is not about your pocket, you can be a good leader without necessarily having money”.
The filing fee for women and persons with disabilities will be GHc 200,000.
These decisions were taken at an ongoing National Executive Council, NEC, meeting of the NDC.
So far 13 persons have declared their intention to lead the party come 2020, including former President John Mahama.
Source: kasapa News
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owura or whatever your name is. i hv read with keen interest you piece on the above subject. i will be glad as an ndc member of which i believe you equally are to help me answer these questions; 1. what is the percentage increment of this fee over last four years/ 2. per your logic if only one candidate is able to pay and file, how will the party be able to achieve your suggestion of increasing revenue via the 1000 volunteers contributing ghc 420 each? what it means is that the target cannot be met. 3. is ndc a social democratic party as enshrined? 4. lets take a clue from what jj. rawlings keep telling us. if care isnt taken all aggrieved aspirants will resign from the party like goozie tanoh did prior to 2000 election and that will spell doom for us all. i will not be surprise if JDM keeps us in perpetual opposition. Mark my words
All that NDC leadership is saying is that, since you believe you have what it takes to lead the party to victory in 2020, then you should have at least 1000 people who will be willing to support your candidature with at least 420 Ghana Cedis to file for you. That mobilization will be an indication that you will be able to mobilize resources for an effective campaign when you win the slot. Secondly, since each aspirant is confident of winning the primaries, none should complain believing that the other contestants will eventually contribute totgekr campaigns through the filing fees- Any aspirant who complains about the filing fees should be deemed a time-waster who is simply using the party to gain popularity. Any aspirant who believes they can win over 5,000,000 Ghanaians to become President shouldn’t have a problem mobilizing resources from 1000 people to file. I call on all branch executives to open their eyes and ears wide to identify all those who will complain. That’s an obvious indication that they are there for comic relief. Meanwhile NPP paid 500,000 Ghana Cedis in 2015 for a similar exercise so I don’t even understand why NDC is charging only 400,000. Maybe because the economy was better then than now-
These NDC leaders are all conmen.... This is elimination by rough tactics. Resign from that wicked party and join a proper democratic party NPP.