The New Patriotic Party (NPP) of Ghana has introduced a GH₵2,000 fee for prospective parliamentary candidates to declare their intention to contest the party's primaries ahead of the 2028 general elections. This move is seen as unprecedented in Ghana's political history. The declaration period is set to run from November 1 to November 10, 2026, and aspirants are required to register and pay the fee through the party's online portal.
According to the NPP's General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, the declaration-of-intent exercise is meant to be a first administrative step, allowing the party to check whether prospective candidates meet its constitutional requirements before they proceed to the next stage. The party also checks the laws of the country to ensure that any person who intends to be nominated as a parliamentary candidate meets the requirements set forth by the laws.
The NPP has cautioned aspirants against touring constituencies to drum up support during this window, since formal nominations have not yet opened. Declaring interest does not amount to a green light for campaigning. The party's General Secretary described the move as a pace-setting measure, emphasizing that the party has always been a leader in introducing new measures in the country's political dispensation.
The introduction of the GH₵2,000 fee has raised concerns about whether it will discourage aspirants with limited resources, particularly women and younger candidates, from putting themselves forward. This concern echoes recent warnings from the Gender Centre for Empowering Development (GenCED), a watchdog group that has called for a law to regulate money in party primaries.
GenCED has previously argued that financial demands within internal party elections can shut out women, young people, and persons with disabilities. The NPP has not said what measures, if any, it will put in place to cushion aspirants who may struggle to raise the GH₵2,000 declaration fee before the November window closes.
Alongside the declaration period, the NPP is scheduled to carry out a zoning exercise from November 1 to December 4, 2026, beginning with the northern zone, as part of preparations ahead of the formal nomination and vetting stages of its parliamentary primaries. Both sitting MPs and challengers will go through eligibility checks before the party moves to the next phase of selecting its candidates for the 2028 polls.
The NPP's decision to introduce a fee for declaring interest in running for the parliamentary primaries has sparked debate about the inclusivity of the party's selection process. The party's move is seen as a significant development in Ghana's political landscape, and its impact on the country's democratic process remains to be seen.
Key points
- NPP introduces GH₵2,000 fee for prospective parliamentary candidates to declare interest in running for 2028 elections.
- The fee has raised concerns about the inclusivity of the party's selection process, particularly for women and younger candidates.
- The NPP's decision has sparked debate about the role of money in Ghana's party primaries.
