If the electorates and the general public supports your bid to be a Member of Parliament or President after the December polls, they must support you pay the ‘high’ filing fees.

This is according to the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC). Charlotte Osei explained that the filing fees will also cut down on the number of contestants in the general elections.

“It is not because we want to set very high fees but there are practical challenges and realities that we are facing with the high number of people who want to take part in office which is good.”

She said the ‘high’ filing fees also tells that governing people is a ‘serious matter’ and those who wish to govern must also be made aware of that in all they can.

READ ALSO: EC's presidential filing fee too low- Ayariga's APC

Speaking at the weekly event dubbed ‘Ask the EC’ Charlotte Osei said if the parliamentary or presidential aspirant is the choice of the Ghanaian populace and electorates then they must help the aspirants pay the fees.

The Electoral Commission increased the filing fees for presidential candidates from GHC10,000 to GHC50,000 for the December 2016 elections. This was after a meeting with all political parties. Parliamentary filing fees were also increased from GHC1000 to GHC10,000.

READ ALSO: EC mulls reviewing filing fees following outcry

The move drew different views from the political parties.

Meanwhile, the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) has filed a suit against the EC over the ‘high’ fees.

The plaintiff is among other things seeking the court to declare that “the filing fee is arbitrary, capricious and unreasonable”.