NDC General Secretary, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, says the party’s decision to open registration for new members ahead of branch-level executive elections is deliberate.

According to him, it is rooted in a strategy of expanding the party into what he described as a “bigger tent.”

Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Monday, Mr Kwetey said internal elections at the grassroots level must be preceded by an opportunity for new and returning members to officially join the party and participate fully.

“If you’re going to have the executives elected at a branch level, you need to ensure that you allow people who want to join the opportunity,” he said.

He explained that the party is expecting increased interest from several groups, including young people who have recently reached voting age and want to become more active in the NDC.

“First, we should not forget the number of people who want to join; some people have come to the voting age, and they want to be much more active in the party,” he said.

Mr Kwetey added that the party is also making room for individuals who were previously inactive but now want to return and participate in party activities.

“Possibly, there are people who, in the past, used to be inactive, but now want to be much more active, so they want to pick up registration and then join actively to be members of the party,” he noted.

Host Evans Mensah suggested that the party’s recent electoral victory has also made it more attractive to new supporters, particularly given the margin of victory.

In response, Mr Kwetey agreed, saying the NDC is intentionally opening its doors wider to accommodate those who want to be part of the party’s journey.

“You want to give room to as many people as possible who want to be on the train, to come,” he said.

He said that the approach is central to the party’s direction. “And so that’s all part of the process of ensuring that we have a bigger tent,” he added.

Asked whether the party has projections on how many new members it expects to register, the General Secretary said it would be difficult to estimate exact figures.

“I would say projection in terms of numbers might be difficult to have,” he said.

However, he said the NDC expects significant interest across branches nationwide. “We do anticipate that a lot more people in the various branches, with a lot of people want to join in the various branches,” he stated.

Mr Kwetey said the party’s growing appeal is not only linked to winning power, but also to the conduct of the party and government.

He said the NDC has been working to make itself more attractive over time and believes its current posture is encouraging more people to join.

“That truly has been the journey we’ve been on, to have a situation where people find our party more and more attractive, not just because we won,” he said.

He attributed the momentum to what he described as efforts to honour commitments and maintain internal discipline.

“But also because of the way we are conducting ourselves even in government… the way the party is ensuring that we try hard to keep faith with promises we’ve made. We try to keep the discipline within the party itself,” he said.

“And I think that is all part of the reason why a lot more people might want to join us.”