'Neglecting grassroots dangerous' – GFL warns NDC, NPP

Secretary-General of the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), Abraham Koomson, has called on Ghana’s major political parties to establish dedicated Grassroots Liaison Desks to strengthen communication between party leadership and members at the grassroots.

He said political parties that aspire to govern effectively must create structured channels that connect grassroots supporters with constituency, regional and national leadership to ensure their concerns are heard and addressed.

Mr Koomson cautioned that both the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) risk alienating their grassroots supporters if they fail to maintain close engagement with them, warning that such neglect could breed dissatisfaction and ultimately affect their electoral fortunes.

Speaking on Monday, he expressed particular concern about the NDC, saying there were growing signs that some grassroots members already felt sidelined by sections of the party’s leadership.

According to him, ignoring the concerns of party faithful who worked tirelessly to secure electoral victory could undermine the unity and stability of both the government and the party.

Mr Koomson proposed that the NDC establish a dedicated Grassroots Liaison Desk at the Presidency as well as at the party’s national, regional and constituency offices to serve as a bridge between the leadership and ordinary members.

He explained that such a structure would provide an avenue for party supporters to submit complaints, seek assistance and receive feedback from party executives, ministers, Members of Parliament and chief executive officers.

While commending the government for introducing programmes aimed at improving livelihoods, Mr Koomson said many grassroots supporters were unable to benefit from these initiatives because of limited internet access and other logistical challenges.

“Most of the people can’t even access the internet to apply and benefit from these opportunities. That is why I am calling for a special desk to bridge this gap,” he said.

He urged the NDC leadership to treat the proposal with urgency, arguing that maintaining strong links with the party's grassroots base was essential to sustaining public confidence and rewarding the commitment of supporters.

According to him, many grassroots members believe they have been abandoned since the party assumed office, despite the significant role they played in the NDC’s electoral success.

He said concerns raised by supporters often go unanswered, with many complaining that they are unable to reach party leaders or receive responses to their grievances.

Describing the situation as an early warning sign, Mr Koomson said the party must act quickly to prevent growing frustration among its supporters.

He also called for continuous education at the grassroots on the roles and responsibilities of ministers, Members of Parliament and other public officials, noting that the demands on such office holders sometimes make it difficult for them to respond to every individual request.

Mr Koomson maintained that establishing a Grassroots Liaison Desk would help bridge the communication gap between the leadership and party supporters, while reducing suspicion, feelings of neglect and internal tensions within the party.