A coalition of Political parties contesting the December elections has called on the Electoral Commission to review prices of the nomination forms for both the presidential and parliamentary candidates. According to the EC, presidential candidates are to pay GH¢5000, with their parliamentary counterparts paying GH¢500. But the parties claim the fees are “unrealistic, arbitrary and unfair”. Four years ago presidential candidates paid GH¢2000 and the parliamentary candidates, GH¢50. Addressing a press conference in Accra on Thursday, Mr. T.N. Ward Brew, presidential candidate for the Democratic People’s Party said the prices “do not reflect the current rate of inflation.” According to him, the “EC is not a revenue generating agency” and should revert to the prices they charged in 2004. The coalition is made up of all the opposition parties as well as the ruling New Patriotic Party. Chairman of the National Democratic Congress Dr. Kwabena Adjei accused the EC of not listening to the views of the political parties. “If we want to put our ideas through they say IPAC is only an advisory committee. You can advise us, but we take what we want. That impunity that has characterised the Executive cannot characterise the EC,” he charged. Mr. David Kanga, a deputy commissioner at the Electoral Commission says different factors were taken into consideration before arriving at the new prices. According to him the monies demanded from the parties are only deposits and if a party exceeds a specified percentage of votes cast in December, their monies will be refunded. In an interview with Joy News' Akwasi Sarpong, Mr. Kanga said there will be further discussions with the parties to look into their demands. “If the parties are complaining we will find a forum to discuss this matter and the IPAC will be the appropriate forum”. Story by Nathan Gadugah