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National Youth Organizer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Henry Nana Boakye says persons or political parties which cannot afford to pay the EC's filing fee should bow out of the electoral contest and allow those who can to go into the elections.

Presidential aspirants are obliged to pay a fee of Ghc 100,000 while Parliamentary candidates are paying Ghc 10,000 to file their nominations, according to the Electoral Commission (EC) Chairperson, Madam Jean Mensa.

"The Presidential Candidate will be required to deposit an amount of Ghc 100,000 in a form of a Bankers draft to the Commission, Parliamentary Candidates will be required to deposit Ghc 10,000 in a form of a Bankers draft as well. We wish all candidates for both presidential and parliamentary elections well, we trust that the nomination process will be efficient, seemless and orderly..." she said.

Submission deadline for the nomination forms is from Monday, 5th October to Friday, 9th October, 2020 between the hours of 9am and 12noon, and 2pm and 5pm each day.

Following the EC's announcement, some political party members have opposed the filing fee, particularly with the Presidential seat.

They argue the fee is immoderate and want the EC to reduce it for the candidates.

Addressing the issue, Henry Nana Boakye wondered why there are calls for the EC to reduce the filing fee for the Presidential candidates.

In his view, the fee is very moderate and any person who wants to become President should afford to pay.

"We're making it look like it's student politics. Even in students' politics, when a person wants to become SRC President, you'll have to pay some filing fee and in this case, we're talking about vying for President of the nation. I mean why are we acting like this? So you want to say as a whole political party or an independent candidate, you cannot marshall resources. Some have also raised questions like are we selling the Presidency? No! The explanation is if you're interested in this contest, you need to be resourceful," he stressed on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo'.

Nana Boakye called on the political parties to attach seriousness to the Presidential seat, asserting that to be President of Ghana is no joke.

"We're talking about becoming a President; that you want to be called the President of the Republic, Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, it's not simple . . . It's like going to wed a lady and the family gives you a list, then you ask them if they're selling the lady to you. What are talking about? Are you not serious? If you're not serious, go home," he stated.