NPP Flagbearer Race: Vetting, Not Development Fee, Will Decide Disqualification – Party

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has moved to clarify concerns surrounding the controversial GH¢4 million “development fee”, insisting that its payment alone will not automatically disqualify any presidential aspirant.

Deputy General Secretary Haruna Mohammed explained that the final decision on aspirants’ eligibility rests with the vetting process, not the payment deadline.

His clarification comes after former flagbearer aspirant Francis Addai-Nimoh alleged that failure to pay the fee could cost aspirants their place in the primaries.

“If there is a deadline for something to be paid and somebody did not pay after the deadline, obviously, the person did not pay. But there will be vetting of all documents, including those filed by aspirants. Until vetting is done and the report is submitted to the National Council, I cannot say what will happen,” Mr. Mohammed told Joy FM’s Top Story on Monday, September 8.

No Explicit Clause on Disqualification

According to him, neither the NPP’s constitution nor its July 29, 2025 guidelines explicitly state that non-payment of the development fee leads to outright rejection.

“I have in my hand the memo opening nominations and the guidelines released the same day. In none of these documents is it stated that failure to pay the development fee leads to outright rejection,” he stressed.

Payment Still Binding

Mr. Mohammed, however, maintained that the fee remains a binding requirement, as captured under item six of the constitution and item five of the guidelines, and will therefore form part of the vetting assessment.

The controversy has already drawn sharp criticism from aspirants including Kennedy Agyapong and Kwabena Agyapong, who argue that the levy is excessive and unfair.

With the vetting stage now the ultimate determinant, the fate of aspirants who have not fully complied with the fee payment remains uncertain until the National Council delivers its verdict.