You want to lead NDC and can't raise GHC420,000? - Chief Biney rebukes fagbearer aspirants

NDC Deputy National Youth Organizer, Chief Biney has lashed out at flagbearer aspirants within the party who have a bone of contention with their filing fees of Ghc 400,000.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) National Executive Council (NEC) has requested all flagbearer aspirants to pay Ghc 20,000 to pick forms and an additional Ghc 400,000 before they can file for nomination.

All payments are non-refundable.

Addressing the press at the party's headquarters in Accra, the party's General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia also disclosed that the NDC will organize their Presidential candidate elections on January 19, 2019 across the 275 constituencies in the country.

Some aspirants have expressed dissenting views on the NEC decision.

Stephen Atubiga and former Trade Minister, Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, both flagbearer aspirants, have vehemently spoken against the filing fees with Mr. Spio-Garbrah saying he will file his nomination as a disabled candidate since he is visually impaired.

“Speaking for myself, I am visually impaired and totally fall into that category. We knew how much, until recently, ministers of state and MPs were receiving by way of remuneration. After filing, I would expect all aspirants to show their tax returns as proof of legitimacy.

“We must not behave as if we live in isolation. We do not even know what went into this. It is out of line for a social democratic party,” Mr. Spio-Garbrah told the Daily Graphic after the filing fee was announced by the party on Thursday.

Reacting to the issues on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo', Chief Biney believed the filing fee is in order and that any person with a dissenting view should consult with the National Executive Council of the party but not express their concerns on the air waves.

According to him, the amount is to ensure that serious people file and contest the flagbearership race; hence anyone who cannot pay the fee should redirect his or her ambitions.

Chief Biney added that the NDC needs financial support to run as a political party aside the payment of dues by members of the party.

He therefore questioned the commitment of the dissenters of the party directive saying "if you want to lead NDC as a political party with a vision to clinch victory in 2020 together, where we’re going to win and you are not prepared to pay a filing fee of 400,000; then you have a problem . . . If they have reasons why they think it’s too much, they should tell us and let us also know how much is too much and how much is okay”.