African Electoral Institute urges EC to reduce 2024 Presidential, Parliamentary elections filing fees  

The African Electoral Institute (AEI) is calling on the Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) to reduce the filing for the 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

According to the Institute, the EC is independent and can reduce the fees.

“However, if it is not feasible to reduce this amount for the 2024 general elections, then we plead with the Electoral Commission and all stakeholders to relook at these payments and their impact on the outcome of elections in the future.

“Equally, the Electoral Commission could explore other means by which they can mobilize resources to carry out their activities even if means including these in their budget for the approval of Parliament to enable them reduce the fees for prospective candidates. Or from Development Partners,” the Institute indicated in press statement dated 6th August, 2024.

Candidates vying for the position of President will be required to make a payment of One Hundred Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH¢ 100,000.00) at the time of submitting their Nomination Forms.

Payment shall be by Banker’s draft and addressed to the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission. Female Candidates and Persons with Disabilities are required to pay Seventy-Five Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH¢ 75,000).

Below is the full statement from African Electoral Institute

PRESS RELEASE
TO: ALL MEDIA HOUSES
DATE: 6TH AUGUST, 2024

AFRICAN EELECTORAL INSTITUTE (AEI) RECOMMENDS A RELOOK AT THE FILLING FEES FOR PRESIDENTIAL AND PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATES FOR THE 2024 GENERAL ELECTIONS

Following the recent announcement by the EC outlining the dates, procedure and fees for the filing of nomination for the December 7, 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections, the African Electoral Institute (AEI) is of the view that the announced One Hundred Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHS100,000.00) as filling fees for presidential candidates, and Ten Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHS10,000) for parliamentary candidates is on the high side.

As the country is seeking to minimize the monetization of our democracy to create a fair playing ground for all capable citizens to participate in responsible and accountable governance,these high fees have the tendency to deter other equally competent, qualified but financially less-endowed persons from taking part in this all-important democratic exercise.

The AEI is not against the rational for the fee payment which may serve to verify candidate’s capacity to mobilize resources. However, the candidates will need quite a substantial amount of money to campaign after filing their nominations nomination, thus, with this unavoidable amount slapped on them, some may be compelled to go for loans from not so ideal sources to finance their Presidential or Parliamentary ambitions which usually may have dire consequences on the nation.
As an Institute, we believe there are so many other means to verify candidate’s capacity to contest for elections which then makes us question the need for these huge payments as filling fees.

The African Electoral Institute believes that the EC is independent and can reduce the fees.
However, if it is not feasible to reduce this amount for the 2024 general elections, then we plead with the Electoral Commission and all stakeholders to relook at these payments and their impact on the outcome of elections in the future. Equally, the Electoral Commission could explore other means by which they can mobilize resources to carry out their activities even if means including these in their budget for the approval of Parliament to enable them reduce the fees for prospective candidates. Or from Development Partners.

In conclusion, the AEI is satisfied with the progress made by the Electoral Commission so far since they rolled out their calendar for the 2024 December 2024 general elections.

SIGNED:
Deputy Director of Communications
Joshua Nii Adjin-Adjin Tettey
0540904550

Augustus Eshun
Director of Communication and External Relations
(0244609891

HEAD OF ELECTORAL SECURITY DEPARTMENT
Ex.W/O1 Alhaji Yussif
(0243311965)

Electoral Research Dept.
Seyram Mankra
0244747128

2nd Dep. Director of Communications
Emmanuel Biri
0538421573 (WESTERN REGION AND CENTRAL REGION)

About Us:
African Electoral Institute ( AEI) is a Civil Society Organisation (CSO) founded to deliver sustainable electoral solutions to Emerging and Developed Democracies to strengthen, augment, and build electoral stakeholders capacity and participation on electoral issues through electoral education on voter’s rights and freedom, electoral research, election monitoring, election observation, election results collation, election security awareness and training of polling agents and elections directors underscoring the fact that “elections are won at the polling stations’’ and the participation of all identifiable electoral stakeholders in an electoral process such as Political Parties, Governmental Institutions, underpinning transparency and accountability for a free, fair, and credible elections in Africa and the wider world.

Motto: “Integrity of Choice”

Source: Today.com.gh