Director of IT at the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr. Serebour Quaicoe, has advised presidential candidates to seek financial support from their backers to cover the GH₵100,000 filing fee.

Dr. Quaicoe, who previously served as the EC Director of Electoral Services, made these comments during a forum held by the Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG) in Accra on Friday.

“Contesting an election is not an individual issue, if you don’t have the money you should be able to mobilize from your supporters.

“So if you are saying you want to be the president of Ghana and you not mobilizing people to pay 100,000 then how are you going to do the campaigning?” he admonished.

Male presidential candidates for the 2024 elections are required to pay GHC100,000 to the Electoral Commission (EC) upon submission of their nomination forms.

The commission will accept nominations for Presidential and Parliamentary candidates from Friday, August 2, to Friday, September 13, 2024.

According to the EC, female candidates and persons with disabilities will pay an amount of GHC75,000.

“Candidates vying for the position of President will be required to make a payment of One Hundred Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH0 100,000.00) at the time of submitting their Nomination Forms. Payment shall be by Banker’s draft and addressed to the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission. Female Candidates and Persons with Disabilities are required to pay Seventy-Five Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH0 75,000)," a statement from the EC dated August 1, read.

This announcement has elicited varied reactions, with some arguing that it could expose candidates to undue influence from their financial supporters.

The EC requires that completed Presidential Nomination Forms be signed by the candidate and at least two registered voters from each District Assembly.