Greater Accra NDC: Ebenezer Arkutu unveils six-pillar plan for welfare, party development et al.

Greater Accra Regional Secretary hopeful of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Ebenezer Arkutu, has unveiled an ambitious six-point development agenda aimed at transforming the party's regional administration, strengthening its grassroots structures and improving the welfare of members across the region's 34 constituencies.

Under his proposed manifesto, Mr. Arkutu is promising to pursue permanent party offices, establish a regional health and medical aid fund, create educational support structures, develop revenue-generating businesses, provide free legal assistance to eligible members and introduce a formal complaints and feedback system.

The former Ayawaso Central Constituency Chairman says his vision is to transform Greater Accra into the most powerful regional bloc in the history of the NDC through corporate-style administration, institutional reforms and sustainable programmes that promote collective growth and development.

In his manifesto, Mr. Arkutu said his ambition was informed by years of service to the party and a desire to contribute to building an NDC that responds more effectively to the needs and aspirations of its members. His proposed reforms place particular emphasis on strengthening the party's infrastructure, reducing its dependence on external funding and establishing systems through which grassroots members can access healthcare, education, legal assistance and economic opportunities.

Permanent Regional and Constituency Offices

A major component of Mr. Arkutu's agenda is the establishment of permanent offices for the regional and constituency structures. He described the absence of a permanent regional secretariat and the widespread reliance on rented or temporary constituency offices as a structural weakness that undermines the party's identity, dignity and operational efficiency. If elected, he says he will work towards acquiring land and launching construction of a permanent Regional Secretariat within 18 months of assuming office.

He also proposes establishing a Constituency Infrastructure Fund to support all 34 constituencies in acquiring or constructing permanent offices.

The fund, according to the manifesto, would be financed through stakeholder fundraising, diaspora partnerships and monthly contributions.

Under a proposed Corporate Adopt-A-Constituency initiative, party patrons and corporate stakeholders would also be encouraged to sponsor the construction or acquisition of offices for selected constituencies.

Mr. Arkutu believes the proposed infrastructure drive would provide the party with a stronger institutional presence and improve coordination of political and administrative activities across the region. Proposed Health and Medical Aid Fund

The manifesto also proposes a Regional Health and Medical Aid Fund to support party members who face financial difficulties accessing critical healthcare. The fund would provide assistance for critical medical care, surgeries and emergency medical evacuations for needy members.

To finance the initiative, Mr. Arkutu proposes a one per cent contribution from the earnings of elected Members of Parliament, government appointees and party patrons who agree to participate, alongside voluntary contributions from other members.

He also plans to organise an annual Health-for-All Gala, bringing together stakeholders and supporters to raise funds for the initiative.

To promote transparency and fairness, the fund would be managed by an independent board of trustees comprising health professionals, legal practitioners and respected party elders.

The proposed arrangement, he says, would ensure that assistance is distributed fairly and based on need.

Scholarship and Educational Support

Under the proposed Educational Affairs and Opportunity Unit, Mr. Arkutu intends to move the party away from what he describes as ad hoc arrangements for helping members access educational opportunities.

The unit would establish a Scholarship Placement Desk to identify and facilitate access to local and international scholarship opportunities, with allocations distributed fairly across the 34 constituencies.

It would also operate a seasonal Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) Support Desk to help families navigate senior high school placements, address placement errors and facilitate admissions.

A Tertiary Admissions Hub would further engage relevant stakeholders to assist party members seeking admission to higher education institutions.

The proposed interventions are intended to make educational assistance more coordinated, accessible and predictable for party members and their families.

Commercial Ventures to Fund Party Operations

In what he describes as a shift from a consumer party to a producer party, Mr. Arkutu proposes establishing commercial enterprises to generate sustainable revenue for the Greater Accra NDC.

The proposed NDC Logistics and Printing Press would serve the printing and logistics needs of the region's 34 constituencies while competing for contracts in the wider local and international markets.

He also proposes establishing commercial agricultural ventures, including cash-crop farming, poultry production and aquaculture, in constituencies with suitable resources.

The manifesto further outlines a Grassroots Venture Capital Fund through which a portion of business profits would support a revolving, interest-free microcredit scheme for party women and young people seeking to establish small businesses. Under the proposed Constituency Investment Shares arrangement, each constituency would hold an equity stake in the regional businesses and receive quarterly dividend payments into its account.

Mr. Arkutu argues that the initiatives would help reduce the party's reliance on fundraising and create a more sustainable financial base for regional and constituency operations.

Free Legal Assistance for Members

Another key proposal is the establishment of a permanent Regional Legal Aid Unit to provide free legal services to members who cannot afford legal representation.

The unit would operate from the Regional Secretariat and draw on a network of NDC-aligned lawyers, jurists and paralegals to provide legal consultations and representation to eligible members.

A dedicated Legal Defence Fund would also be established, using part of the revenue generated by the proposed commercial ventures to cover court filing fees, administrative charges and logistical expenses for legal teams. The proposal is intended to improve access to legal assistance for members facing legal difficulties in their political or private lives.

Complaints and Feedback Desk

To strengthen communication between party leadership and the grassroots, Mr. Arkutu proposes a Regional Complaints and Feedback Desk to provide members, branch executives and constituency officers with a formal channel for raising concerns.

The proposed desk would operate through a toll-free hotline, a secure WhatsApp business line, an online grievance portal and physical suggestion boxes. Members would be able to submit complaints, suggest policy ideas and report grievances directly to the Regional Secretariat, regardless of their location or access to digital technology.

Mr. Arkutu argues that an accessible feedback system would help the regional leadership identify concerns, respond to grievances and improve trust between party executives and members.

"A Secretariat that does not listen is a Secretariat bound to fail," he stated in the manifesto.

A Call for Unity and Collective Action

Concluding his manifesto, Mr. Arkutu called on party members and delegates to embrace cooperation and support his proposed reforms to reshape the future of the Greater Accra NDC.

He said the success of his vision would depend on collective commitment, effective collaboration and the willingness of party stakeholders to pursue initiatives that benefit both the organisation and its members.

His six-point agenda presents a broad programme spanning infrastructure, healthcare, education, enterprise development, legal assistance and grassroots representation.

If elected, the former Ayawaso Central chairman would have to work with regional and constituency executives, party patrons, elected representatives and other stakeholders to mobilise the resources needed to implement the proposals.

For Mr. Arkutu, the ultimate objective is to build a stronger and more self-sustaining regional organisation that provides practical support to its members while strengthening the NDC's grassroots structures and long-term electoral prospects.

Source: Isaac Essel
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