NCCE Condemns High Filing Fees By Parties(D/G, Monday February 7, 2011. page 13)

The National Commission for Civic Education, (NCCE) has described as unfortunate the decision by some political parties to charge high filing fees for parliamentary aspirants.According to the Chairman of the commission, Mr Larry Bimi, such exorbitant charges would only go to debar competent but resource constrained persons from seeking to represent their constituents in the legislature.Mr Bimi said this at an end of year party for staff of the Commission in Bolgatanga, the Upper East Regional Capital.The New Patriotic Party (NPP) recently announced that all aspirants from constituencies where there are sitting NPP MPs would pay a total sum of GH¢ 16,000, while those in orphaned constituencies would pay GH ¢ 6,000. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced a figure of GH¢ 2,000 as filing fees. Both parties however, offered a 50 per cent rebate for women aspirants to encourage them.But Mr Bimi believed that such high demands could overwhelm poor persons who were desirous of contesting elections and prevent them from participating in the democratic process even though they have what it takes to represent their constituents.He, therefore, called on the political parties in the country to put their acts together to provide an equal platform for all to take part in the democratic process of the country.He said Ghana had enjoyed relatively stable democracy mainly due to the efforts of the NCCE and the Electoral Commission albeit in the face of inadequate resources.He advised staff not to be daunted but continue to make do with the available resources to impact positively on the society and promised them that every effort would be made to fight for more resources to help them deliver on their mandate.The Upper East Regional Director of the NCCE, Mr Peter Mensah, said in pursuit of the mandate of the commission in the region, a number of activities including school based programmes designed to complement the school curricular as well as nurturing the leadership potential of the youth had been undertaken.Others are face–to-face interaction with communities, organised bodies and representative audiences, as a well as radio discussions on relevant subjects.On the Bawku crisis, he said the commission under the auspices and with financial support from the Bawku Municipal Assembly played a substantial role in efforts towards the resolution of the conflict, adding that the NCCE was able to mobilise some opinion leaders in the Bawku Municipality including leaders of the feuding ethnic groups and arranged a press conference where they declared to the whole region their commitment to peace and unity.“Though that event certainly did not end the conflict, it contributed to the beginning of the easing of the tension at Bawku” he contended.The Paramount Chief of Bongo who is a staff of the commission, Naba Salifu Alemyarum, chaired the function. He advised staff of the commission, not to be daunted by the many challenges they face but rather work hard to effectively enhance the image of the NCCE in the region.Awards were later presented to staff of the commission who dedicated themselves in the past year.