Kwabena Agyepong rejects GH¢4.6m NPP presidential race development fee
New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential aspirant, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, has strongly criticised the party’s decision to charge aspirants GH¢4.6 million as a development fee, describing it as “morally wrong” and a barrier to fair competition.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Mr. Agyepong said the amount was never part of the original agreement at the National Executive Committee meeting, where consensus was reached on GH¢100,000 for nomination forms and GH¢500,000 as a filing fee.
“There is a subtle attempt to bring back a fee that was rejected. Some even suggested GH¢10 million, and another GH¢5 million. I was shocked. Do they even appreciate what is happening in the country?” he asked.
He stressed that the cost of running presidential primaries is the responsibility of the party, not the aspirants.
“It is morally wrong. It means if you don’t have that money, you cannot stand as president. So leadership positions become the preserve of a few,” he argued.
Mr. Agyepong further insisted that the NPP constitution does not empower the National Council to impose such charges, saying its role is only to fix the date for primaries.
He also dismissed claims that aspirants could easily afford the fee, questioning the source of such confidence.
“Those who claim they have that money, I know all of them. They even came to meet me in this party. Who among them can tell me he had more money than me?” he said.
Highlighting his longstanding contributions to the NPP, Mr. Agyepong argued that the party has alternative ways to raise funds without burdening aspirants.
“I have paid what I am supposed to pay, so why impose such fees on us? What kind of image are we showing Ghanaians?” he added.
The NPP recently opened nominations for its flagbearership race, pegging the fees at GH¢100,000 for forms, GH¢500,000 as filing fees, and GH¢4.6 million as a development fee.
But Mr. Agyepong maintains the development fee has no constitutional basis and must not determine who qualifies to contest.
Please download our HOTDIGITAL ONLINE APP and follow HotDigital Online on our social media platforms to stay updated on our upcoming initiatives.
#HotDigitalHealthAwareness #CommunityHealth #GhanaNursesAssociationUK #HealthMatters #HotDigitalOnline #StrongerTogether
