Akwasi Opong-Fosu proposes ‘3Vs’ plan for NDC grassroots empowerment and economic viability

Akwasi Opong-Fosu, a candidate for National Democratic Congress (NDC) National Chairmanship, has unveiled a grassroots empowerment framework dubbed the "3Vs" - Votes, Voice, and Viability. The initiative seeks to strengthen branch and constituency members' influence within the party and provide them with opportunities to bolster their economic status beyond election periods.

Under the Votes component, Opong-Fosu advocates for greater recognition and backing for branch and constituency members' efforts in mobilising support for the party's electoral success. In the Voice aspect, he proposes a more defined role for grassroots members in shaping party decisions. This would include a system enabling branches and constituencies to convey their proposals to regional and national leadership and receive pertinent responses.

Viability, the third component, concentrates on elevating the economic prospects of members and bolstering the financial sustainability of constituency structures between elections. To achieve this, Opong-Fosu suggests identifying business opportunities within local economies by constituencies. This would facilitate members' access to skills training, apprenticeships, mentorship, and markets.

Furthermore, the proposal advocates for the establishment of lawful, member-owned businesses and cooperatives, complete with proper ownership structures and financial records.

To oversee constituency-level business activities, Opong-Fosu proposes the creation of a Business Development Directorate at the party's headquarters. This entity would offer technical assistance, connect local structures with credible partners, and ensure accountability in the management of these businesses. However, the proposal allows local constituencies to decide the most suitable activities for their specific circumstances.

Opong-Fosu emphasized that the engagement underscored the necessity of grassroots empowerment beyond election campaigns. He associated the proposal with the NDC's theme of "Restoration, Renewal, and Resetting," arguing that it should apply to the relationship between the party's leadership and its grassroots members as well. According to Opong-Fosu, restoration would entail rebuilding trust in grassroots leadership, renewal would focus on enhancing members' economic prospects, and resetting would involve adjusting the party's support for its members and constituency structures between elections.

The proposed framework is intended to be implemented across all constituencies rather than through a pilot programme. Opong-Fosu's campaign, AOF4C - Akwasi Opong-Fosu for Chairman, asserts that the framework aims to make grassroots structures more economically viable while granting members a more substantial role in the party's decision-making processes.