GenCED Warns NPP’s GH¢5,000 Parliamentary Fee Could Discourage Women and Youth

The Gender Centre for Empowering Development (GenCED) has raised concerns over the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) reported GH¢5,000 parliamentary candidate application fee, warning that the amount could create financial barriers to political participation, particularly for women, young people and persons with disabilities (PWDs).

The concerns follow the NPP’s announcement of a GH¢5,000 application fee for parliamentary aspirants, in addition to a GH¢2,000 fee for those seeking to formally declare their interest in contesting the party’s parliamentary primaries.

The party has reportedly defended the charges as necessary measures to ensure that only serious and committed aspirants proceed to the nomination stage.

However, in a statement issued on Friday, October 30, 2026, GenCED argued that although political parties have legitimate administrative and organisational expenses, their candidate selection requirements should not create unnecessary obstacles for qualified individuals from groups historically underrepresented in political leadership.

The organisation questioned whether the increasing financial demands associated with contesting political office were gradually making access to leadership dependent more on financial strength than on competence, leadership ability and commitment to public service.

“For GenCED, this development raises a fundamental question about Ghana’s democracy: Does every qualified citizen have a fair opportunity to compete for political office, or is access to leadership increasingly determined by financial capacity?” the statement queried.

GenCED Raises Concerns Over Women’s Political Participation

GenCED observed that women aspiring to parliamentary positions already face significant challenges in mobilising the financial resources required to compete effectively in internal party elections.

These challenges, it noted, include unequal economic opportunities, limited access to influential political networks and sponsorship, as well as the disproportionate burden of unpaid care and domestic responsibilities.

According to the organisation, the GH¢5,000 application fee could further discourage qualified women who lack wealthy sponsors or established financial networks from pursuing their political ambitions.

It stressed that the application fee represents only a fraction of the financial obligations associated with parliamentary contests.

Aspirants are also expected to mobilise resources for transportation, campaign activities, constituency engagements and other organisational requirements throughout the internal electoral process.

“When the ability to pay becomes a significant determinant of who enters the political contest, Ghana risks narrowing the pool of potential leaders and perpetuating women’s underrepresentation in Parliament,” GenCED warned.

Young People and Persons with Disabilities Also at Risk

The organisation further expressed concern about the potential impact of the fees on young people and persons with disabilities, who may possess the qualifications, leadership skills and innovative ideas needed to contribute to national development but lack the financial backing available to more established political figures.

It cautioned that imposing substantial financial requirements at the initial stages of the candidate selection process could prevent emerging leaders from participating in internal party elections, irrespective of their competence and ability to serve.

GenCED maintained that inclusive political participation requires political parties to create an environment where qualified individuals can compete on a fair basis, rather than allowing financial considerations to become a major determinant of political opportunities.

GenCED Calls on NPP to Review Parliamentary Application Fee

In response to these concerns, GenCED has called on the NPP to reconsider its parliamentary candidate application fee and undertake an assessment of its potential implications for women, young people and economically disadvantaged aspiring candidates.

The organisation also proposed three key measures to promote fairness and inclusiveness in the party’s candidate selection process.

These include:

Fee reductions and waivers: Introduce transparent application fee reductions or exemptions for eligible candidates facing structural financial barriers.

Transparency and accountability: Clearly explain how application fees are determined and how the funds collected from aspiring candidates are managed.

Support for underrepresented groups: Strengthen practical support mechanisms for women, young people and other underrepresented groups seeking to participate in internal party elections and political leadership.

Beyond the NPP, GenCED urged other political parties in Ghana to review their candidate selection procedures and financing arrangements to ensure that financial requirements do not unnecessarily restrict access to political leadership.

The organisation emphasised the importance of building an inclusive democratic environment where political participation is determined by merit, competence and commitment to public service rather than financial capacity.