Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo
The agitation by the eight aggrieved flagbearer hopefuls of the National Democratic Congress against the controversial Ghc400,000 filling fee, has yielded fruits as the party yesterday slashed it down to Ghc300,000.
The fee for females and Persons With Disability (PWD) which were pegged at Ghc 200,000 and Ghc150,000 cedis respectively are now Ghc 150,000 and Ghc100,000.
The fee for nomination form, however remained GHc20,000.
The decision was made by the Functional Executive Committee (FEC) on behalf of the National Executive Committee (NEC) upon advice from the Council of Elders of the party following a petition the council received from the aggrieved aspirants.
Briefing the media after a FEC meeting yesterday, a Deputy General Secretary of the party, Peter Boamah Otokunor said the period for picking of nomination forms which elapsed on Tuesday, November 4, has been extended to Saturday, December 8 excluding Friday December 7, which is a national holiday.
He said only the eight petitioners who initially showed intent can pick the forms.
The presidential primary for the party initially scheduled for January 19, 2019, he said, would now be held on January 26, 2019.
Vetting of aspirants, Mr Otokunor said would be on December 17 and 18, and balloting on December 22. Appeals after vetting, if an, would be on December 22 and 24.
He pointed out that all other provisions of the guidelines remained unchanged, while the decision had been communicated to the Council of Elders who would meet the petitioners today.
Mr. Otokunor insisted that the NEC did not err in its earlier decision but only adhered to an advice by the council to review the guidelines which the party’s constitution made provisions for.
He assured all aspirants that a level playing field would be created for them to ensure a free and fair primary.
The controversial filling fees drew the public backlash with speculation that the fees were a ploy to eliminate some aspirants, but the party defended it saying it needed the money to organise the upcoming primaries.
Eight out of the 12 aspirants who deemed the fees exorbitant and illegal, petitioned the party’s Council of Elders to call the party to order while resolving that they would not pick the forms.
Unperturbed by the petition, NEC opened nomination and representatives of five aspirants picked forms on their behalf.
By Jonathan Donkor
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