GenCED raises concerns over NPP’s GH¢5,000 parliamentary application fee

The Gender Centre for Empowering Development (GenCED) has expressed concerns that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has set a GH¢5,000 parliamentary candidate application fee, which may reinforce financial barriers limiting women and young people's participation in Ghana's political leadership. Political parties have legitimate costs, but their candidate selection requirements should not disadvantage qualified individuals, particularly underrepresented groups.

GenCED questions whether every qualified citizen has a fair chance to compete for political office or if access to leadership increasingly depends on financial capacity.

Women aspiring to parliamentary office often face structural disadvantages in accessing financial resources, such as unequal economic opportunities, limited access to political networks and sponsorship, and disproportionate responsibility for unpaid care work. With an already expensive political environment, a GH¢5,000 application fee could be a significant barrier for women lacking wealthy sponsors or established financial networks.

This financial burden extends to other campaign expenses, placing women at a disadvantage when they have fewer resources and less political patronage.

The reported application fee also raises concerns about opportunities for young people and persons with disabilities (PWDs) seeking political leadership. Many young people and PWDs have ideas, qualifications, and commitment to contribute to national development but lack accumulated wealth, established networks, and financial backing.

When aspiring candidates must overcome substantial financial hurdles before internal party elections, political leadership becomes less accessible to emerging leaders whose primary assets are competence, ideas, and commitment to their communities. Ghana's democratic future depends on creating opportunities for a new generation of leaders, and financial requirements disproportionately disadvantaging young people risk reinforcing existing inequalities.