GH¢100,000 filing fee for presidential race too cheap; make it like GH¢2million - Kofi Akpaloo

Flagbearer of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), Kofi Akpaloo, has called for an increase in the filing fee for presidential candidates in Ghana.

In an interview on GhanaWeb TV’s Election Desk with Mawuli Ahorlumegah, he stated that the current GH¢100,000 filing fee for the presidential race is insufficient and should be increased.

He described the amount as "chicken change" and emphasized the need for a higher fee.

“GH¢100,000 is chicken fee. Those candidates who asked for a decrement were not ready. If you are not ready to raise GH¢100,000 then you are not ready to be president. Because going round to campaign in the 16 regions, do you know how much it’ll cost you? It is too cheap. To become a president of Ghana, and then to put your name on the ballot… and you are only paying GH¢100,000, it’s too cheap. They should make it like GH¢2 million.”

When asked if presidential aspirants could afford such an amount, Akpaloo insisted that those who cannot are not ready to become presidents.

He said “Then it means you are not ready to be there. You see Ghanaians are complaining that it is becoming too easy for people to be on the ballot, people want to be presidents and the rest. So if they make it like GH¢5 million, they make the parliamentary candidates free…”

Akpaloo further urged the Electoral Commission to make filing fees for parliamentary candidates free, while setting the fee for presidential candidates at GH¢5 million.

He added that this measure would reduce the number of individuals seeking to run for president in the country.

Watch the video below. The full interview shows on GhanaWeb TV on Tuesday, October 15, 2024.





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