Legal scholar Prof. Stephen Kwaku Asare, popularly known as Kwaku Azar, has described the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) GH¢600,000 nomination fee for its upcoming presidential primary as a “democratic crisis in slow motion.”
In a strongly worded statement, the US-based lawyer argued that the astronomical fees set by the governing party would deter qualified candidates from contesting and ultimately weaken Ghana’s democratic process.
According to the outspoken legal practitioner, political parties play a crucial role in candidate selection and must ensure that their processes remain accessible to ordinary citizens.
He warned that the GH¢600,000 fee could further entrench a system where money, rather than competence or integrity, becomes the main determinant of political leadership.
In a Facebook post, Kwaku Azar condemned the fee, stating that it undermines the principles of democracy and exceeds the amount charged by the Electoral Commission (EC) for national elections by six 6.
He stated that “The Constitution (Article 55(5)) requires political parties to be organised in accordance with democratic principles. Internal democracy is not optional; it is foundational.
He added: “Any party that imposes arbitrary financial barriers on participation undermines this constitutional command. When the cost of entry into internal primaries becomes the equivalent of the lifetime earnings of most public servants, the party ceases to be a platform for national service and becomes a marketplace of privilege.”
Azar further argued that the fee is not a test of capability or commitment but rather one of financial power.
“Let us be clear: ₵600,000 is not a test of merit, competence, or commitment. It is a test of wealth, patronage networks, or willingness to borrow from financiers with all the moral hazards that entail,” he noted.
He indicated that “It narrows the field to the ultra-wealthy, entrenches incumbents, sidelines youth, women, and reformers, and creates a pipeline to transactional politics, where public office is used to recover campaign investments.”
Prof. Azar called on the NPP and all political parties to review their nomination fees and adopt measures that promote broader participation. He further urged civil society and electoral stakeholders to pressure political parties to adopt transparent and affordable selection processes.
The NPP recently opened nominations for its presidential primaries and announced that prospective candidates must pay GH¢600,000 as a filing fee.
A notice issued by the party’s General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, on July 29, 2025, said the directive is in line with Article 13(1)(2) of the NPP Constitution.
Nominations for the position of the party’s presidential candidate officially open today, Tuesday, July 29, 2025, and will close on Thursday, August 28, 2025.
Per the guidelines, any party member seeking to contest must first obtain a nomination form after paying a non-refundable nomination fee of GH¢100,000. Payment must be made via Bankers’ Draft addressed to the New Patriotic Party Headquarters, Accra.
After successfully acquiring the nomination forms, aspirants are required to pay a filing fee of GH¢500,000, also via banker’s draft, payable to the New Patriotic Party National Headquarters.
In addition to these fees, the notice further states that each aspiring presidential candidate “shall be required to pay a Development Fee as determined by the National Council.” However, the specific amount for this Development Fee was not disclosed in the notice.
The presidential primary, which will be the National Congress to elect the party’s flagbearer for the 2028 general elections, is scheduled to be held on Saturday, January 31, 2026.
The amount has triggered widespread debate, with critics describing it as prohibitive and unfair, while some party officials argue it will help raise funds to organise the primary.
