Why charge GH¢5,000 just for people to declare  interest in parliamentary primaries? – Kwaku Azar questions NPP

Ghanaian legal scholar and social commentator, Professor Stephen Kwaku Asare, has raised constitutional and procedural concerns over the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) decision to charge prospective parliamentary candidates GH¢5,000 to declare their intention to contest the party's 2028 parliamentary primaries.

He has questioned the legal basis for introducing the Expression of Interest (EOI) process, arguing that it could create an additional eligibility requirement beyond those provided for in the party's constitution.

His concerns follow an announcement by the NPP on Thursday, October 29, requiring all prospective parliamentary candidates, including incumbent Members of Parliament (MPs), to declare their intention to contest between November 1 and 10.

The NPP, in its announcement, said prospective candidates must complete an online expression of interest form through its designated portal and pay the GH¢5,000 application fee.

In a social media post on Thursday, Professor Asare outlined 10 questions he believes the party must address to justify the new arrangement.

Among other things, he questioned why aspirants must pay a separate GH¢5,000 fee to express interest when they would subsequently be required to pay nomination and filing fees.

He also challenged the decision to conduct eligibility screening before the formal nomination process, asking which provision of the NPP constitution authorises the additional stage.

"The DOI does not appear to be merely a tool of administrative convenience. If failure to comply bars an otherwise qualified member from contesting, it becomes a new substantive hurdle to seeking parliamentary nomination," he stated.

Professor Asare further questioned whether the declaration of interest would be mandatory and whether an otherwise qualified party member who fails to register within the stipulated period would still be allowed to file nomination papers.

He also sought clarification on the criteria for screening aspirants, the possibility of disqualifying sitting MPs, the availability of an appeals process and whether the GH¢5,000 fee would be refundable or deducted from the eventual nomination fee.