Dr. Akwasi Opong-Fosu, a National Chairmanship aspirant of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Ghana, has unveiled a comprehensive plan to empower the party's grassroots. The initiative, dubbed Votes, Voice, and Viability (3Vs), aims to reposition branch and constituency structures as sustainable, year-round operational centres. This will be achieved by enhancing grassroots participation in party governance, supporting local economic initiatives, and providing greater recognition and resources to members involved in mobilisation.
The Votes pillar of the blueprint seeks to equip, resource, and recognise branch and constituency executives whose work forms the foundation of the party's electoral mobilisation. This move is expected to address concerns over the economic sustainability and participation of grassroots members who play a critical role in building the party's electoral base. By doing so, Dr. Opong-Fosu aims to strengthen the party's grassroots leadership and enhance its electoral prospects.
The Voice component of the plan proposes formal channels through which grassroots members can contribute to party policy. This will be achieved by establishing mechanisms to ensure that proposals from the branches reach regional and national leadership and receive feedback. This initiative will provide a platform for grassroots members to contribute to decision-making processes and shape the party's policy direction.
The Viability pillar focuses on the economic sustainability of constituency structures through local businesses, cooperative societies, and skills development initiatives. Dr. Opong-Fosu explained that this will enable constituency structures to generate resources to sustain their activities between election cycles. The plan also proposes the establishment of a Business Development Directorate at the NDC National Headquarters to provide technical support and promote accountability in grassroots economic ventures.
The proposed Business Development Directorate will help constituency structures identify viable business opportunities, link them with credible partners, and provide guidance on financial management. According to the proposal, individual constituencies will develop enterprises based on their local economic conditions, including agricultural processing, trading activities, and vocational apprenticeship programmes. This initiative is expected to reduce dependence on centrally driven support and enhance the economic sustainability of constituency structures.
Dr. Opong-Fosu, a former Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, emphasised that the party's approach to grassroots mobilisation should extend beyond periods of elections. He stressed that restoration, renewal, and resetting must mean restoring trust in grassroots leadership, renewing members' economic prospects, and resetting how the party empowers its members economically. This will enable party members to participate meaningfully in the organisation beyond seasonal campaign activities.
The NDC has scheduled its National Congress for Saturday, December 19, 2026, when the executives, including the National Chairman and General Secretary, are expected to be elected. Dr. Opong-Fosu's blueprint is expected to contribute to the party's preparations for the congress and shape its future direction. The plan has been welcomed by party members, who see it as a crucial step towards strengthening the party's grassroots and enhancing its electoral prospects.
Key points
- Dr. Akwasi Opong-Fosu unveils a comprehensive plan to empower NDC grassroots in Ghana.
- The plan, dubbed Votes, Voice, and Viability (3Vs), aims to reposition branch and constituency structures as sustainable, year-round operational centres.
- The initiative seeks to enhance grassroots participation in party governance, support local economic initiatives, and provide greater recognition and resources to members involved in mobilisation.
