Former Finance Minister Dr Kwabena Duffuor is set to launch a National Democratic Congress (NDC) grassroots empowerment and self-financing Project dubbed the ‘NDC Ahotɔ Project’ for the grassroots. 

‘Ahotɔ’ means relief in the Akan language.

In a statement, the project manager stated that the Project’s main aim is “geared towards setting up micro-businesses in all the 275 Constituencies to create the much needed, but currently unavailable local funding for the day-to-day running of the NDC party at the grassroots level”.

This initiative directly responds to the recommendations of a business feasibility study commissioned by Dr Duffuor and carried out by a team across the country.

It was to establish the most feasible and sustainable business idea capable of helping finance the NDC party activities at the local level.

He laments the present situation where the responsibility of raising resources for grassroots activities of the NDC is either left in the hands of branch and constituency executives whose work for the party is purely voluntary, affecting their businesses and families or in the hands of sitting MPs who are also overwhelmed by financial demands of their constituents.

According to him, it’s not a sustainable way of financing a modern-day political organisation.

This Project which is yet to be implemented is meant to lessen the burden on MPs and relieve local executives of the huge financial difficulties they face in running the party.

It is believed that the NDC Ahotɔ Project will create a medium for the local party machinery to be financially self-sufficient through regular income streams to help support their ongoing initiatives.

It is also to empower and reposition the NDC and make it battle-ready for election 2024 and beyond.

According to the project manager, the NDC Ahotɔ Project will be micro-businesses focusing on social events such as funerals, naming ceremonies, marriage ceremonies, durbars, political campaigns, and rallies, mostly outdoor activities. 

The nature of these activities places a high demand on the use of plastic chairs, canopies, public address systems, power generators, podiums, mobile toilets etc.

A local rental business of the accessories owned and run by the party at various constituency levels will create employment opportunities and generate income, bringing relief (Ahotɔ) to the grassroots.

Dr Kwabena Duffuor is, therefore, sponsoring and financing all the 275 constituencies with all the equipment and accessories necessary to set up a rental business.

The pilot phase of the NDC Ahotɔ project is set to be launched at the Ashaiman Constituency in the Greater Accra Region on Thursday, April 7.