The Secretary-General of the Ghana Federation of Labour, Abraham Koomson, has called on the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to urgently strengthen, resource and empower its grassroots structures ahead of the 2028 general elections.
Mr. Koomson says the party cannot afford to become complacent despite being in government, particularly at a time when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) continues to organise and mobilise its supporters across communities.
Speaking on Ahotor FM’s Yepe Ahunu programme in Accra on August 5, 2026, he stressed that the strength of a political party is not determined only by its performance in Parliament or the activities of its national leadership, but also by the effectiveness of its structures at the grassroots.
According to him, political competition takes place at different levels and requires political parties to maintain active and responsive structures within communities to engage voters and counter the activities of their opponents.
Mr. Koomson likened politics to a football match, explaining that just as a football team must remain organised and alert throughout a game, a political party must continuously strengthen its structures and remain prepared for the strategies of its opponents.
He warned that political opponents could take advantage of weaknesses within a party if its grassroots structures are not sufficiently organised, motivated and resourced.
Resource grassroots members
Mr. Koomson therefore urged the NDC leadership to pay greater attention to its grassroots members by providing them with the resources, motivation and support needed to remain active within their communities.
He said grassroots members play a crucial role in political mobilisation because they are the party’s direct link to voters and are often the first to identify emerging concerns within their communities.
“According to Mr. Koomson, these members interact directly with ordinary citizens and therefore have a better understanding of the concerns, expectations and challenges confronting voters.
He argued that information gathered at the grassroots level can help the party better understand public sentiment and respond appropriately to issues that could influence voters.
Warning against overreliance on political elites
The labour leader also cautioned the NDC against relying excessively on political elites, government officials and educated supporters while neglecting the party’s grassroots base.
He stressed that educated and influential members have an important role to play, but their efforts must be complemented by sustained mobilisation at the branch, electoral area and constituency levels.
According to him, elections are ultimately won through consistent engagement with voters and the ability of political parties to maintain strong relationships with communities.
He said the NDC must therefore treat the strengthening of its grassroots structures as a continuous exercise rather than something that should begin only when the 2028 election campaign gets underway.
Mr. Koomson’s call comes as political parties prepare for the next general election, with the NDC seeking to maintain its support base while the NPP works to regain power in 2028.
He urged the NDC leadership and its members at all levels to remain focused, organised and responsive to developments within their communities, stressing that sustained grassroots mobilisation would be critical to the party’s prospects in the 2028 elections.
Story by Stephen Kwaku Owusu Mintah