Dr. Kwabena Duffuor
THE COMPETITION for the flagbearership slot of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is getting fierce, with former Minister of Finance, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, trying to make it a dead heat for Ex-President John Dramani Mahama, who enjoys better footing in the crucial race.
He seems well poised to dislodge Mr. Mahama from the seat, by reviving his campaign, and intending to launch a programme dubbed: “The NDC Ahotɔ Project for Grassroots,” with its pilot phase scheduled to come off on Thursday, April, 7, 2022, at Ashaiman Constituency in the Greater Accra Region.
Last week, Dr. Duffuor received a delegation of NDC Constituency Executives from Ashaiman, led by Tony Afenyo, the Constituency Chairman, at his office at the Institute of Fiscal Studies at the Airport Residential Area in furtherance of his presidential bid.
His new “project” has already sent tongues wagging, with suggestions that he appears better suited to hold the flag of the NDC in the 2024 general election.
In a statement, signed by his project manager, Dr. Duffuor explained that the NDC Ahotɔ Project will be micro-businesses focusing on social events such as funerals, naming ceremonies, marriage ceremonies, durbars, political campaigns, and rallies, which are mostly outdoor activities.
“The nature of these activities places high demand on the use of plastic chairs, canopies, public address systems, power generators, podiums, mobile toilets,” the statement indicated.
“A local rental business of the accessories, owned and run by the party at various constituency levels, will create employment opportunities and generate income, which will bring 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 statement added.
It said this initiative is a direct response 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 to finance the NDC party activities at the local level,” he pointed out.
He bemoaned 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, the statement indicated, is purely voluntary, affecting their personal businesses and families.
“This project, which is yet to be implemented, is meant to lessen the burden on MPs, relieve local executives of the huge financial difficulties they face in running the party,” the statement noted.