NDC Reorganization Sparks Grassroots Concerns Over Timing of New Membership Drive
By: Nii Ayitey Armah
The ongoing reorganization exercise being spearheaded by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has drawn commendation for its intent to rebuild party structures, strengthen internal systems and position the party for future electoral success. However, emerging concerns from within the party suggest that aspects of the process – particularly at the grassroots level – may require urgent reconsideration.
At the centre of the debate is the National Executive Committee’s (NEC) decision to begin a new membership registration exercise on February 10, 2026, ahead of branch executive elections. Critics argue that while expanding party membership is vital, the timing of the exercise could undermine internal democracy and threaten the integrity of branch-level processes.
Party members have stressed that the branch remains the bedrock of the NDC, serving as the primary point of engagement between the party and its grassroots supporters. It is at this level that loyalty is built, mobilisation is sustained and discipline is nurtured. Any reform process that weakens the authority or credibility of branch structures, they argue, risks eroding the party’s foundational strength.
Concerns have been raised that registering new members before branch elections creates room for manipulation, especially as constituency elections and parliamentary primaries draw closer. There are fears that some executives or sitting Members of Parliament seeking to retain their positions could influence the registration process by packing branches with loyalists or deliberately weakening existing branch executives perceived as threats.
Such actions, whether real or perceived, could deepen mistrust within the party, turning a well-intentioned reorganization into a source of division and suspicion.
According to grassroots advocates, existing branch members are best placed to assess the performance of their executives, having worked closely with them through challenging political periods. Allowing branch elections to be determined by long-standing members is seen as a way to ensure fairness, continuity and legitimacy in leadership selection.
They warn that introducing new members ahead of branch elections – regardless of good intentions – could sideline dedicated party workers and distort the genuine will of the grassroots.
To safeguard unity and transparency, the NEC has been urged to reconsider the current sequence of the reorganization process. A proposed alternative approach includes conducting branch executive elections using the existing membership register, followed by a comprehensive and well-monitored new membership registration exercise, before proceeding to constituency elections and parliamentary primaries.
Advocates believe this approach would strengthen internal democracy, reduce suspicion and reaffirm the party’s long-standing commitment to grassroots empowerment.
“The strength of the NDC has always rested on its base – the grassroots,” party members insist, warning that any reorganization that overlooks this reality risks alienating loyal supporters and breeding avoidable disaffection.
As the party navigates this critical phase, the message from the grassroots is clear: reorganization must unify, not divide; empower, not disenfranchise. By placing branch-level representation at the heart of its reforms, the NEC can deliver a stronger, more united and more democratic NDC, ready to serve the people of Ghana.
