Former Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Akwasi Opong-Fosu, has declared his intention to contest the National Chairmanship of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), pledging to strengthen the NDC’s structures, reconnect the party’s leadership with its grassroots and consolidate its gains ahead of the 2028 election and beyond.
He has also promised to restore the party’s founding values and make it a continental gold standard political party.
Addressing party faithful, elders and the media in Accra last Thursday to declare his candidature, Mr Opong-Fosu said his decision followed extensive consultations with the grassroots, regional caucuses and party elders.
He said his candidature was not driven by convenience, recognition or status but by conviction, sacrifice and service to consolidate the gains of the present, protect the legacy of President John Dramani Mahama and prepare the party for 2028 and beyond.
“I stand before you not just as a member of this great political tradition, but as a servant of our collective destiny,” he said.
Mr Opong-Fosu, who has largely operated away from the spotlight, said his politics had been defined by quiet work in the background and service to humanity.
Mr Opong-Fosu said his campaign would be anchored on restoration, renewal and reset.
On restoration, Mr Opong-Fosu said he aimed at returning the party to its core values of “probity, accountability and social justice”, not as ceremonial slogans but as guides for organisation, leadership and recognition.
“Until everyone counts, no one counts,” he stressed, adding that no branch should be considered too small, no constituency insignificant and no loyal member invisible.
He said renewal meant preparing the NDC for a changing Ghana and a changing world through political education, investment in research, technology, communication and data and deliberate preparation of youth and women for leadership.
The Former Member of Parliament of Amenfi East said renewal must also mean ethical leadership, transformational rather than transactional politics and building strong institutions rather than politics organised around personalities and factions.
Resetting, he explained, required the courage to improve how the party operated, strengthen weak structures, rebuild broken communication and bring back members who felt excluded.
“Individuals will come and go, executives will change, but the NDC must endure.
We must build systems that last all of us,” he said.
Inclusive participation
Mr Opong-Fosu said under this leadership, the youth would not be permanently described as future leaders but would be prepared through mentorship and exposure, while women’s central role in the party’s electoral strength must translate into leadership.
He said his journey through local government, public administration, Parliament, ministerial office and international engagement had taught him that no individual should be more important than the institution that gave him opportunity to serve.
“This moment calls for sacrifice and service. Service based on conviction, not convenience, service that builds systems, not factions, service that facilitates consensus, not confrontation,” he said.
