Former President John Dramani Mahama has raised almost GH¢600,000 in cash through the fundraising efforts of a group MPsForMahama who after targeting 420 people to raise a 1000 cedis each has now hit 570 people while more are subscribing to pledge.

It is expected that Mr Mahama will be filing by next week.

In a related development, the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has said he won’t be part of a process that is a clear case of “create, loot and share” adding that the GH¢420,000 filing fee for flag bearer aspirants of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is ground for corruption.

?Mr Bagbin who is regarded as a leading aspirant spoke to Valentina Ofori-Afriyie on Class91.3FM’s news.

“Any of us could try to mobilise that money because definitely, you can get in touch with people who have money to pay off, but I can tell you that is a wrong thing to do. That is the beginning of corruption that is just giving evidence to what people have been saying – ‘create, loot and share’” he said.

He quickly added: “I am not going to be part of that, I can assure you”.

“I am not going to be part of this kind of opulence and show of extravagance, I will not be part of it, no!” he insisted.

Another aspirant, Mr Elikplim Agbemava, a flag bearer aspirant of the NDC has said he will not pay the extravagant GHS420,000 nomination and filing fee for flag bearer aspirants of the party.

“I will not pay, no! I will not file, it is not right,” he said in an interview with Osei Bonsu on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen talk show on Friday, 30 November 2018.

Mr Agbemava said paying Ghc420,000 to lead a party that professes social democratic principles, is not right”, calling the payment illegal.

“It is an illegal decision that has been taken without consideration of what democracy means”. He opined.

It is also believed that Stephen Atubiga has pulled out of the race, but there is no communication to that effect.