Dr Alexander Amo Baffour, aspiring National Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has proposed a Grassroots Empowerment Fund to provide economic support for party members. The fund would be financed through membership dues, donations, fundraising activities, and other sources to support members interested in agriculture, fish farming, entrepreneurship, and other income-generating ventures. This initiative aims to help members who do not secure political appointments after elections sustain their livelihoods and remain economically active.
Dr Baffour's decision to contest for the National Vice Chairman position is largely informed by concerns about the welfare of grassroots members, whose contributions to electoral victories are sometimes overlooked after elections. He believes the NDC must move beyond relying on grassroots members during election campaigns and establish sustainable mechanisms to reward their commitment and improve their economic circumstances. Dr Baffour also advocates for a more inclusive party administration, ensuring grassroots members have a meaningful voice in decisions affecting the party.
Dr Baffour proposes a pragmatic restructuring of the party to ensure continuous engagement between national leadership, regional executives, constituency officers, and branch members, including during periods outside election campaigns. He suggests introducing measurable performance indicators to assess the organisational activities and performance of constituencies. This would help identify constituencies requiring support and guide decisions on resource allocation and development interventions.
During his tour of the Greater Accra Region, Dr Baffour cited concerns raised by an NDC executive in the Ashaiman Constituency, who complained that despite the area's longstanding support for the party, it had received limited development attention. He believes a performance-monitoring system would help address such concerns and ensure that constituencies receive the necessary support.
Dr Baffour also advocates for the revival of the Ahotor Project, introduced by former presidential aspirant Dr Kwabena Duffuor, which aims to economically empower grassroots members and strengthen the party's structures. He stresses the need for Ghana to take greater ownership of its economy by strengthening domestic production and reducing excessive dependence on foreign interests.
Dr Baffour welcomes the government's allocation of resources towards commercial farming, irrigation infrastructure, silos, and agricultural value chains in the 2027 Budget. He also welcomes attention given to fisheries and efforts to sustain the country's economic stability, describing productive-sector development as essential to improving the livelihoods of Ghanaians.
Dr Baffour, who recently completed the vetting process and balloting for the NDC national executive elections, has picked number four, which coincides with his birthday on December 4, 1982. He appeals to delegates ahead of the party's 19th National Delegates Congress on December 19, 2026, to give him the mandate to serve as National Vice Chairman, prioritising grassroots representation, economic empowerment, and accountability within the party.
Key points
- Dr Amo Baffour proposes a Grassroots Empowerment Fund to economically support NDC members.
- The fund would support members interested in agriculture, fish farming, entrepreneurship, and other income-generating ventures.
- Dr Baffour advocates for a more inclusive party administration and measurable performance indicators to assess constituency performance.
