One of the flag bearer aspirants of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Alban Bagbin, has revealed to Class News that he is in consultation with all the 10 other aspirants – except former President John Mahama, who, the veteran MP said was yet to return his phone calls – to meet and collectively register their displeasure against the GHS420,000 filing and nomination fee for flag bearer aspirants of the party.
All male flag bearer aspirants of the NDC are expected to cough up GHS400,000 as filing fee while their female counterparts and persons with disability will pay GHS200,000 and GHS150,000, respectively. A nomination form is going for GHS20,000.
Mr Bagbin, who is also the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament has kicked against the amount and rallying the other aspirants for a united front in fighting it.
In his opinion, the amount decided by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the NDC will sow the seeds of corruption in the party and in government, should the NDC win power in 2020, since, he argued, the financiers of the aspirants will find corrupt ways of recouping their political investment.
Mr Bagbin told Class FM Thursday, 29 November 2018 that: “We have been able to get almost all [of the aspirants] but I can say that I personally have not been able to get the former president who is one of the aspirants. I’m told that he is in the Ashanti Region campaigning, so, I have not been able to get in touch with him but those that I have called, and they did not pick, have returned the calls. I’ve not heard from him [Mr Mahama] but the others have all returned the calls and indicated their willingness and preparedness to meet and discuss the issue because nobody consulted us [aspirants] and I’m not sure there was extensive consultation”.
He said they will soon petition the party over the fee and other requirements.
In a related development, Mr James Agyenim-Boateng, spokesperson for former President Mahama’s campaign team has said that Mr Mahama has no option than to comply with the GHS400,000 filing fee and GHS20,000 nomination fee.
According to Mr Agyenim-Boateng, the party’s constitution mandates the NEC to outline measures for the progress of the party, therefore, as a law-abiding Ghanaian and member of the party, Mr Mahama, who is seeking to the lead the party again into the 2020 presidential elections, will have no alternative than to obey the new guidelines.
Mr Agyenim Boateng told Kwabena Bobie Ansah on the ‘Citizen Show’ on Accra100.5FM on Thursday, 29 November that: “Former President Mahama has always subjected himself to the rules of the party and, so, if this is what the party executives are saying, he has no option than to accept it and follow through.
“The party’s constitution gives the NEC the power to decide for the NDC, so, the aspirants can only comply.”
Mr Agyenim-Boateng further stated that a lot of Mr Mahama’s loyalists have shown commitment to support him to raise the amount.
“Several supporters of Mr Mahama want to help him raise the GHS420,000 for the filing fees. Even before the announcement of the filing fees, Asawase NDC executives came out to pledge to support Mr Mahama financially. A lot of people have shown that they are more than ready and willing to support him,” he added.
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Source: classfmonline.com
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At 200k, all aspirants will endeavour to pay but the exorbitant 400 will ward everybody off. If they are looking for monies from the aspirants they they will no get it. 200k times 13 is better than one person paying 425k.
@Rich, that is $89,000.
NDC = liees, greed, corruption, deceit, conning, incompetence and what have u?
Asiedu Nketia is cursed to tell lies to disgrace NDC party.We are waiting for Mahama.He has already lost it.
it is only corruptible people will contribute to this filling fees.
The money is too much even those from advance countries will not pay this huge amount. Corrupt people. Shame shame shame
The so called supporters of Mahama were the same people who smuggle money in his time so they have enough to help him so they can continue the smuggling of Ghanas money.And these is also another issue its just an attempt to keep others away from contesting with Mahama because the so called are afraid he might loose the the primaries as well.
This fuuuuul of a general sec. would not stop his lies. NPP never took GHs500,000. it was GHs75,000 for the filing fees and GHs15,000 for picking up the form. thet is the highest NPP filing fees. For NDC the previous amount was GHs100,000 to deter people like George Boateng who dared to contest mahama. Even is ndc wanted to increase the fees by 100% it would have been GHs200,000. In raising funds for a party the onus is not only on the flag bearer alone. In fact the executive of the party must strategize and rely on their whole party machinery and electorate to raise funds. How much did Asiedu Nketiah, Akamba, Gyamfi and co pay for filing fees. Let us be circumspect. THis is just a rip off to benefit one candidate. If not it is certainly a case of inflated fees. from inflated contracts to inflated fees.
HE IS NOT PICKING MEANS HE CAN AFFORD IT.
If this is what Agyenim-Boateng the spokes person for mahama's campaign is saying then and John mahama is not picking calls from Mr Bagbin then this shows how diabolical and wicked John mahama is, and this 60 year old man think Ghanaians are st*upid to fall for him? he is beating about the bu*sh ! let me laugh it off because John mahama is not going anywhere! he can make himself the movie star he loves, the good people of Ghana are very discerning and will never choose him over Nana Akufo Addo Barimaba, Addo papabi, Addo playman, Addo a nani abue! John mahama is bent on destroying ndc and he will succeed.