According to Bernard Mornah, in some constituencies, the GHȼ10,000 and GHȼ50,000 filing fees they are charging presidential and parliamentary candidates respectively is sufficient to run a campaign.
He wondered why 90 percent funds needed by the Commission to do any efficient work has been released to them yet it is charging political parties which are cash trapped.
“All of us fought and ensured that government releases monies and in fact 90 percent has been released to you for your work so the EC doesn’t need filing fees from any quarters to augment their work” the CPP leader fumed.
Bernard Mornah was convinced the EC is seeking to exclude participation in the electoral process “and to say that content doesn’t matter, cash matters”.
The PNC Chairman said the conduct of the EC has given credence to his objection to filing fees paid by political parties to enable them contest elections.
“I’m totally opposed to the Electoral Commission charging money that is not part of their operational cost. The fact that there is a law that says that we should file our nomination to them does not mean we should pay money to the Commission” he noted.
Bernard Mornah said the astronomical increase in the filing fees is part of the EC is desperate to create a one party state.
“We are totally opposed to the astronomical increase, the pricing of our democracy and the attempt to create a one party state” he stressed.
Comments