The National Democratic Congress (NDC) must execute an internal “reset” and re-anchor itself to core social democratic principles before it can successfully transform Ghana’s national governance, according to former Local Government Minister Dr. Akwasi Opong-Fosu.
Speaking on TV3’s current affairs program Hot Issues, Dr. Opong-Fosu — whose career spans over four decades of public administration as a former District Chief Executive (DCE) in Obuasi and Tepa, Member of Parliament for Amenfi East, and Minister of State — emerges as the ideal candidate to spearhead this structural overhaul for the party’s National Chairmanship.
Drawing from his broad experience in politics, local government and global affairs, the former lawmaker argued that systemic weaknesses within political parties directly translate into public governance failures.
“Political parties are a reflection of governance,” Oppong-Fosu said during the interview.
“If you have an internally weak political party and for some reason it’s voted into office, you definitely will have some dysfunction in governance.”
Dr. Opong-Fosu outlined a three-part agenda centered on the restoration of foundational values, a renewal of mindset regarding political leadership, and an organizational reset.
He emphasized that the governing party must recommit to its core tenets of probity, accountability, and social justice.
His broad experience in civil service, local government reform, and international administration—including his tenure as President of the African Union of Local Authorities—positions him uniquely to translate administrative rigor into political management.
According to the former minister of state, the NDC risks deviating from its foundational roots if it allows transactional politics and self-interest to overtake its ideology.
He urged the party to leverage structured institutional mechanisms over personality-driven dynamics.
“We need to gain the trust of the people that this is a party in government that we can trust,” he stated, highlighting modesty, administrative transparency, and grassroots inclusion as essential building blocks for sustaining long-term political authority.