The Progressive People’s Party (PPP) has threatened to sue the Electoral Commission for contempt if it goes ahead to charge GHS50,000 as filing fee from presidential nominees as the Friday September 30 deadline approaches.
The party sued the election management body a few weeks ago in an attempt to have the court force it to review the presidential nomination fee.
The plaintiff is seeking a declaration that “the filing fee is arbitrary, capricious and unreasonable”.
The party is also seeking a declaration that Regulation 45 of C.I. 94 is discriminatory, arbitrary, capricious and unreasonable. “That the entire C.I. 94 does not contain the appropriate relevant provisions that meet the intendment of Article 296 of the 1992 Constitution.”
The other reliefs sought include: “A declaration that the proper instrument within the meaning of the relevant laws of the Republic of Ghana, in charging a deposit or fees for conducting a presidential or parliamentary election, by the Electoral Commission, is a statutory instrument and not constitutional instrument.” “An order directed at the defendants to desist from collecting and or receiving the said deposit or fees for the conduct of the 2016 presidential and parliamentary elections until the appropriate statutory instruments have been passed in accordance with appropriate legal rights.”
So far 23 nominees, including 7 independent aspirants have picked forms to run for the presidency. They are to start filing their nominations between today (Thursday September 29) and Friday by 5pm.
Meanwhile, the EC has urged aspirants to submit their nomination forms early to ensure they meet the deadline.
A statement issued by Eric Kofi Dzakpasu, Head of Communications at the EC, on Wednesday said: “Candidates are also urged to take the contents of the statutory declarations seriously, understanding the full legal implications of admissions made under oath.”
It added: “Candidates are to take note of the requirement under law to ensure that their tax obligations are met in full or the need to make satisfactory arrangements in respect of tax obligations with the appropriate authority. Candidates are to take note of the requirement to declare their assets to the Auditor-General in order to meet the eligibility criteria. Candidates are to ensure that the following details are written in block letters on the back of the photographs accompanying the nomination forms: Names (without titles), Age, Sex, Political party/Independent (as the case may be).”
“The pictures should show both ears, on a red background, and should be post card size. Nomination forms should also be submitted with the requisite filing fees in banker’s draft. The Commission will not accept cheques or cash. Political parties can make bulk payments for their candidates at the Head Office of the Electoral Commission. Independent parliamentary candidates can only pay filing fees at the constituency level.”
However, Policy Advisor for the PPP, Kofi Asamoah-Siaw has told Class News if the EC goes ahead to collect the GHS50,000 from presidential nominees as filing fee, then the party will proceed to court to file a case of contempt against the election conducting body.
Source: Ghana/AccraFM.com
