The African Electoral Institute (AEI) has mounted an advocacy against the filing fee instituted by the Electoral Commission (EC) for Presidential and Parliamentary Candidates to partake in the upcoming elections.
A statement issued by the Deputy Director of Communications, Joshua Nii Adjin-Adjin Tettey, said the GHS100,000.00 filling fees for presidential candidates, and GHS10,000.00 for parliamentary candidates are too high.
The Institute argues that the fee will derail efforts to demonetize the country’s political positions and has the propensity to erase fair playing ground for candidates.
“As the country is seeking to minimize the monetization of our democracy to create a fair playing ground for all capable citizens to participate in responsible and accountable governance, these high fees have the tendency to deter other equally competent, qualified but financially less-endowed persons from taking part in this all-important democratic exercise.”
It contended that “candidates will need quite a substantial amount of money to campaign after filing their nominations nomination, thus, with this unavoidable amount slapped on them, some may be compelled to go for loans from not so ideal sources to finance their Presidential or Parliamentary ambitions which usually may have dire consequences on the nation.”
It is of the view that there are numerous avenues the Commission could explore to verify candidates’ capacity to contest for elections other than the exorbitant changes.
The AEI has therefore called for a review of the fees.
“The African Electoral Institute believes that the EC is independent and can reduce the fees. However, if it is not feasible to reduce this amount for the 2024 general elections, then we plead with the Electoral Commission and all stakeholders to relook at these payments and their impact on the outcome of elections in the future.
“Equally, the Electoral Commission could explore other means by which they can mobilize resources to carry out their activities even if means including these in their budget for the approval of Parliament to enable them reduce the fees for prospective candidates.”
Source:opemsuo.com