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The pursuit of core democratic principles like periodic elections is becoming very expensive, the re-elected Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress has said.

Joseph Ade Coker revealed that the monies that candidates have to part with, in order to champion a good campaign and win elections, may just be too much for the middle to low class citizens to afford.

Speaking to the AM Show Monday, the now three-time Regional Chairman told Joy News’ Roland Walker that these financial demands would prevent a section of the citizenry from vying for leadership position.

“If you’re not resourceful you can’t prosecute an election,” he stated. After the elections are won these delegates incur debts that need settling and Ade Coker noted that the situation takes away about 20 percent sincerity from leaders to followers.

Mr Ade Coker however, declined to reveal the loss he incurred to hold on to his post. He noted that such an information should be kept secret. “These are strategic secrets, what went in or out should be trade secrets and organisations don’t discuss their trade secrets in the public,” he said.
 
He added that what mattered was “the delegates believed in our message”. Mr Coker added that it’s time the NDC looks at modalities governing their election so such spending could be reduced.

His comments come two days after the NDC went to polls to elect regional executives.

Scores of incumbent executives were kicked out. Also the biggest shock came from the ‘World Bank’ of the party, the Volta Region.
 
Former legislator, George Loh and former Transport Minister, Dzifa Attivor who is embattled for infamous bus branding saga both lost out in their bid to capture the Secretary and Chairmanship positions, respectively.

Mr Ade Coker noted that unlike their previous elections -- where the party used biometric registration, which was later heavily disputed – this has being generally free and fair.

He noted that the previous one had been marred because some incumbent candidates skewed the system to alienate their contenders and their supporters.

He explained that this time everything went on well and nobody felt excluded so it would be easy to bring the losers together to support the party.