Politics

NPP flagbearer race: Aspirants to pay GH¢600k filing fee

'Keep the guns on our opponents, not me' – Bawumia

The flagbearer aspirants aiming to lead the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) will have to pay a whopping GH¢600,000 as a filing fee.

This comes on the back of the party officially opening nominations for its 2026 presidential primaries.

According to the party, a substantial filing fee is required for aspirants aiming to lead the party into the 2028 general elections.

The announcement, made on Tuesday, July 29, by NPP General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong, sets the nomination period from now until August 28, 2025. The primaries themselves are scheduled for January 31, 2026.

Per the party’s guidelines, each aspiring presidential candidate must pay a non-refundable GH¢100,000 as an application fee and an additional GH¢500,000 as a filing fee—both payable via Bankers’ Draft to the NPP’s national headquarters in Accra.

Adding to the financial hurdle is a proposed “Development Fee,” the amount of which is yet to be disclosed. This fee will be determined by the party’s National Council and is expected to support broader organisational efforts around the primaries.

The high cost of entry has drawn mixed reactions. While some within the party see the fees as a way to streamline the process and ensure only serious contenders enter the race, critics argue it risks limiting access and entrenching moneyed influence in Ghanaian politics.

The NPP’s internal race comes at a pivotal time, as the party prepares for a post-Akufo-Addo era. With momentum already building among various factions, several high-profile names are expected to contest, although few have formally declared their candidacy.

Despite concerns over affordability and accessibility, party officials maintain that the fees are essential to finance a complex, nationwide delegate election involving all 275 constituencies.

The January 2026 election is expected to be fiercely contested, as the NPP seeks a strong candidate capable of unifying the party and competing effectively against the opposition in 2028.