NDC flagbearers ‘insult’ NEC over GHC420k filing fee - National Chairman

Amidst the rumpus over the filing fee for presidential aspirants of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), some of them have been accused of raining insults on the National Executive Committee (NEC).

The Committee took the decision on Thursday, November 29 to peg the filing fee at GH¢400,000 for male aspirants and half of that for females. The disabled will pay GH¢150,000.

But before that, forms were to be picked at a GH¢20,000 non-refundable fee.

There has been mixed reactions since the announcement of NEC’s decision.

While some aspirants consider the fees too exorbitant, others like followers of former leader John Mahama think it can be generated.

Moves have even started for the amount to be raised for him.

But speaking on 3FM’s Sunrise on Monday, National Chairman of the NDC Samuel Ofosu Ampofo says some of the aspirants have written to NEC to rain insults on them.

Mr Ofosu Ampofo reiterated his warning at his election last month to entrench discipline within the party.

“As a chairman of the party, I have insisted that discipline will be the order of the day. You cannot say you want to be a flagbearer and for that matter you will insult the whole party machinery.”

He said nobody is above the “dictates of the party constitution”.

It is unclear which of the aspirants wrote to NEC but eight of them have petitioned the party’s Council of Elders over the “unlawful” fees charged.

They claim they will not pick forms if the decision is not revoked.

“We oppose these fees on the grounds that they call the Party’s fundamental commitment to social democracy into question.”

But Mr Ofosu Ampofo, who insisted the decision was taken unanimously at NEC’s meeting, said some of these flagbearers are going to be snubbed during vetting until they apologise.

“If anybody describes the party national executives in unprintable language, when they appear before us they will be made to withdraw that statement before we even engage them.”