By Benjamin Nii Nai,GBC

Copyright gbcghanaonline

By Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei

New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer aspirant, Dr. Bryan Acheampong, has defended the party’s decision to charge a GH¢4.6 million development fee from aspirants seeking to lead the party.

The party recently opened nominations for its presidential primaries, pegging the cost at GH¢100,000 for nomination forms, GH¢500,000 as a filing fee, and GH¢4.6 million as a development fee.

Speaking to journalists after his vetting in Accra on Tuesday, September 23, Dr. Acheampong argued that the fee is a test of a candidate’s ability to demonstrate resourcefulness.

“If you are a presidential candidate, you have to be able to demonstrate resourcefulness to mobilise what is required to fulfil the party’s requirements,” he stated.

While declining to declare whether the amount was appropriate, he said his team had complied with the requirement and was ready to launch its campaign.

“As to whether it is a fair amount, right amount, exorbitant or low, that is up to the party’s people and the leadership to decide. I’m not for or against; I’m very neutral about it,” he added.

His defence, however, comes amid growing discontent within the party. Fellow aspirant Kwabena Agyei Agyepong has openly criticised the levy, while senior party figure Francis Addai-Nimoh, who recently withdrew from the flagbearer race, described it as an example of the “unreasonable and unhealthy monetisation” of the NPP’s internal politics.

The hefty fee has also sparked criticism from political analysts and sections of the public, who warn it risks restricting the race to only the wealthiest contenders.