Opinion: ¢420, 000, is this the way to go?

I read an article by Owura Amoako Bawuah this morning on his take on the fees to be charged by the major opposition party in Ghana on their presidential candidates.

In his article, he described Africa as a continent that doesn’t look up for the good human resources in the country and give them the needed education and training.

I have also read an article by my own lecturer, Professor Gyampo who for the sake of maintaining the standard of the presidency in the country such amount should be encouraged. According to him, to be the president of state demand sacrifices and people who are ready for the job. Not for those who want to capitalize on being presidential candidates of a political party to make themselves popular. To be a president is a serious business and not a joke.

As a student of politics and a citizen but not a spectator, it is equally right I add my voice.

I strongly believe internal politics when is well conducted brings quality candidates which at the end give the citizens options to choose from when it comes to the general elections.

The questions I haven’t been able to answer are:

1. Is the NDC in need of quality and competent presidential candidate for 2020 elections or they are interested in making people step down because of the cost involved?

2. Is the NDC ready to hold on to the picture they are painting to the general public? The picture that contradicts their ideology as socialists?

3. Is the NDC ready to respect the constitution of this country by giving equal opportunity to all those who have shown an interest of contesting for this election but not discriminating on the bases of economic wealth?

It is clear that the NDC with their enthusiastic means of getting power in 2020 will need enough funds to run the affairs of the party.

However, this move by the party will rather promote corruption, incompetence and inability of the citizens of this nation to get an alternative in 2020.

Political parties in this nation should rather start thinking about how they can raise funds from their members to support the activities of their party.

Vote buying has become very rampant in our political domain because everybody wants to manipulate the system.

Moving forward, the lawmakers and enforcers of the laws of this nation should come out with parliamentary provisions that will direct the means by which various political parties can raise resources to finance their campaigns.

NPP when in opposition wasn’t anything better than their brothers now.

This has resulted in outrageous promises by political parties, however, when voted into power they have to provide for the bidding of the financiers before they start thinking about the political, social and economic development of the state.

No wonder a political party will give Ghanaian more than 100 ministers. It is very sad till date many of these ministers’ names are not known by Ghanaians.

Many Ghanaians don’t know the role they are playing in this administration.

We better become citizens and speak for this nation or we keep mute for our generation to suffer and curse us.

Long live Ghana.

by: Collins Owusu-Sekyere