2024 polls: ‘EC trying to give Ghana to the highest bidder’ — Hassan Ayariga on ‘outrageous’ filing fee

Hassan Ayariga, the flagbearer of the All People's Congress (APC) has criticized the Electoral Commission's decision to set the filing fee for the 2024 elections at a "outrageous" GH₵100,000.

The politician described it as an attempt to sell Ghana's democracy to the highest bidder.

Mr. Ayariga argues that the high fee would deter most Ghanaians from contesting due to the dire state of the economy.

"What I am saying is that the economy is hard in Ghana nowadays, and it is not easy to come by GH₵10,000, not to talk of GH₵100,000," said the All People's Congress leader.

He pointed out that even ministers of state earn less than GH₵15,000 per month, questioning how potential candidates with competence but no access to public funds could raise such an exorbitant sum.

"When you say ministers of state or candidates of any political party should pay GH₵100,000, it is outrageous because the economy of Ghana is tough now. How much is a Ghanaian earning compared to what the EC is asking for? What EC is trying to tell us is that Ghana is for the highest bidder," Ayariga asserted.

He called on Parliament to compel the EC to properly justify the "exorbitant" GH₵100,000 charge, saying it undermines equal opportunity in the political arena.

The Electoral Commission has set the filing fee for those vying for the position of President at One Hundred Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH¢100,000) with Female candidates and persons with disabilities asked to pay Seventy-Five Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH¢75,000).

For the parliamentary elections, the EC has set the filing fee at Ten Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH¢10,000) with female candidates and persons with disabilities seeking to contest given a lower fee of Seven Thousand Five Hundred Cedis (GH¢7,500).