Kofi Wayo slams E.C. Over nomination fees

Mr. Kofi Wayo, leader of the United Renaissance Party (URP), has called for a reduction of the GhC10, 000.00 nomination fee for this year's presidential election.

“It is too much,” he stated, adding, “It is only the elite people who can pay such an amount; the Electoral Commission should reduce the fee to GHC5, 000. 00.”

Mr. Wayo was speaking in interview with the Ghanaian Times at the weekend.

He said “although I have the money to pay, it is too expensive”.

Meanwhile, the flag bearers of some of the smaller political parties have welcomed the fee, saying it is justifiable and reasonable.

In separate interviews, they expressed their readiness to pick nomination forms from the EC office from today.

Madam Akua Donkor, the flag bearer of the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP), said she was ready to pay the fee to contest the election.

She said no political party should dictate to the EC regarding the presidential nomination fee, stressing, “If you want to rule this country, then you should be willing to pay the fee”.

“I want to save the country from collapse, so I will contest the election”, she said.

Mr. Daniel Nkrumah of the New Vision Party (NVP), said the nomination fee was reasonable and should not be challenged, noting that the presidential primaries of the various political parties cost more than what the EC was demanding.

“If you mean business, then you should be ready to pay”, he stressed.

Akwasi Addai Odike, presidential candidate of the United Front Party (UFP), said the Commission's decision was “a step in a right direction. I am poised to contest the presidential elections to save the people from their predicament”, he stated.

Mr. Odike, a businessman, said that the youth had been marginalised and so when elected as president, he would promote entrepreneurship to ensure that the youth became self-employed.

Kofi Percival Akpaloo, flag bearer of the Independent People's Party (IPP), said he was willing to pay the nomination fee to contest the election, adding, “This is the decision of the EC and I am ready to file my nomination to ensure victory in the December election”.

Anmin-Kofi Addo, founder and leader of the Yes People's Party (YPP) however, said it was wrong for the EC to demand money from the presidential candidates of the smaller parties.

“This is public service, and so we should not pay anything at all. It is as if the EC wants the smaller parties who are the real sense of democracy, to disappear”, he stated.

The EC would receive nominations between October 17 and 18, in accordance with the Public Elections Regulations, 2012.