National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has said the party is taking steps to strengthen its welfare system to support former executives and members who have dedicated their lives to serving the party.
According to him, the NDC recognises concerns about the neglect of former party officials after they leave office and is working to address the situation through a strengthened welfare structure.
Speaking during his thank-you tour of the Lamashegu community in the Tamale Divisional Area, Mr. Asiedu Nketia appealed to party elders and supporters to appreciate the efforts of current party officials.
“I beg our elders, your sons are doing their best as far as these protocol things are concerned, and they need to be defended from here. If we make too much noise about lack of protocol, you are in effect attacking our own people,” he said.
The NDC Chairman acknowledged concerns raised by the Paramount Chief of the area regarding the treatment of former party executives.
“I just want to say that we appreciate the very cogent point that was raised about how we tend to forget about our former executives once they leave power,” he stated.
Mr. Asiedu Nketia revealed that while serving as General Secretary of the party, he introduced the Heroes Fund to support former executives and loyal party members facing difficulties.
“That is why when I became General Secretary, I established the Heroes Fund. The purpose was to deal with small, small problems of former executives and everyone who has spent his life serving the NDC, so when he gets into trouble, there must be something to help him,” he explained.
According to him, the initiative did not achieve the intended success because many party members misunderstood its purpose.
“That first attempt did not succeed because many people didn’t understand my intentions,” he added.
He further disclosed that since becoming National Chairman, he has established a welfare department within the party to continue pursuing that objective.
“So since becoming National Chairman, I established a welfare department of the party. We are now working to strengthen the welfare department so that when people serve us and later grow old and need our help, the party should also be able to reciprocate what they have done,” he said.
Mr. Asiedu Nketia assured party members that the NDC remains committed to ensuring that loyal supporters and former executives are not abandoned after years of service.
“We are on course towards delivering that,” he stressed.
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