The New Patriotic Party is accusing the Electoral Commission of taking arbitrary decisions without the inputs of the political parties. Party Chair, Jake Obetsebi Lamptey told Joy News having been part of the electoral process since 1992 it is the first time he is experiencing such arbitrariness from the Electoral Commission. The Commission has announced October 17 and 18 as days for the filing of Presidential and Parliamentary candidates. It has also announced 10,000 cedis as presidential filing fee and 1,000 cedis as Parliamentary fees. The NPP claims the decisions were made without the consultation of the political parties. “There have always been consultations and discussions. This time there is no interaction. It is only announcement by the EC, Jake Obetsebi Lamptey said. “This is the first election I have seen so little interaction between the EC and the political parties,” he added. He said the practice by the EC defeats the very purpose for which the Inter Party Advisory Commission (IPAC) was formed. The PNC is also accusing the EC for what it says is the exorbitant fees it is charging. The General Secretary, Bernard Monah said the EC is selling democracy to the highest bidder and questioned what the Commission will be using the filing fees for. He explained the cost for running elections is borne by the government and wondered why the EC will be charging these exorbitant fees from aspiring candidates. But the Convention Peoples Party disagrees. Its Secretary, Ivor Greenstreet said the party is not surprised at the date and the fees being charged by the Electoral Commission. “We are not surprised at all. We have been expecting it for some time…We are able to meet the deadline and we are also able to meet the expenditure that is being proposed.” “I think it is very reasonable,” he added.