The Director of Training at the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana, Dr. Serebour Quaicoo, has assured the public that the EC is meticulously following all legal processes in preparation for the upcoming elections.
Speaking on ATinka TV’s morning show, Ghana Nie, hosted by Bernard Lav, Dr. Quaicoo emphasized the commission’s commitment to transparency and legality in opening nominations.
In a related development, the EC has announced the filing fees for the upcoming Presidential and Parliamentary elections. The filing fee for presidential aspirants has been set at 100,000 Ghana Cedis, while parliamentary aspirants will be required to pay 10,000 Ghana Cedis. This announcement has sparked various reactions, including concerns about the high cost.
Kwame Bediako, the Leader and Founder of The New Force, voiced his concerns about the steep fees. Responding to these concerns, Dr. Quaicoo humorously remarked, “When you drive around in town, don’t you see the expensive billboards he has mounted? Are they not expensive?”
During the interview, Bernard Lav questioned Dr. Quaicoo on whether the 100,000 Ghana Cedis filing fee was too high for aspirants. Dr. Quaicoo responded, “It will shock you that in 2020, Akua Donkor at an IPAC meeting suggested that we pin it at 1 million Ghana Cedis.”
Dr. Quaicoo also highlighted the legal provision under the Electoral Commission Act, which mandates that filing fees be returned to aspirants who secure a certain percentage of votes. According to the law, candidates who obtain at least 25% of the total votes in the presidential election and 12.5% in the parliamentary election are eligible to have their filing fees refunded.
As preparations for the upcoming elections continue, the EC remains steadfast in ensuring a fair and legally compliant process, addressing concerns and maintaining the integrity of Ghana’s democratic process.
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Ebenezer Madugu
