Political Scientist, Dr. Kwame Asah Asante, has thrown his support behind the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) decision to impose a GH₵600,000 fee on aspiring presidential candidates ahead of its primaries scheduled for next year.
The total cost of participation includes a GH₵100,000 nomination fee and a GH₵500,000 filing fee. While party officials argue the fees are necessary to cover the organisational costs of the primaries, critics say the hefty sum risks limiting the race to only wealthy individuals or those with powerful financial backers, potentially sidelining grassroots candidates.
But Dr. Asah Asante sees it differently. Speaking to Tutuwaa Danso on StarrToday, he stressed that the fees will help streamline the contest and ensure only serious and capable candidates enter the flagbearership race.
“I don’t have a problem with it; it’s okay,” he said. “The issue isn’t whether you personally have that amount sitting in your bank account. What the party is looking for is your ability to mobilize resources. Even if you don’t currently have the funds, you should demonstrate that skill.”
He stated that resource mobilisation is a key leadership trait, especially in a country with limited resources.
“If you’re eventually elected, you’ll be leading a nation where you constantly need to find ways to fund and manage national affairs. If you can’t mobilize resources effectively, then frankly, you shouldn’t seek this position,” he stated. “It would be unwise to aim for leadership if you can’t handle one of its most critical aspects.”
Dr. Asante concluded by saying the fee serves as a necessary test of a candidate’s network, influence, and leadership capabilities.
“We want to see candidates’ capacity, their resourcefulness, their networks, and the relationships they’ve built over the years. This is part of the leadership we need.”
Source: Starrfm.com.gh/Benjamin Sackey
