David Selassie Anthony, popularly known as Dee Mayor, an aspirant for Deputy National Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has called for a shift from election-season mobilisation to sustained investment in grassroots organisation, insisting that party structures must be adequately resourced throughout the political calendar.
The Deputy National Organiser aspirant says consistent funding and support for party structures are key to building a sustainable organisation ahead of 2028. He said party organisation should be treated as a permanent budgetary priority rather than an activity that receives attention only when elections approach.
In an interview with The Ghanaian Chronicle, Mr Anthony said the NDC’s preparations towards the 2028 general elections must begin with deliberate investment in the constituency and regional structures that sustain the party’s presence in communities across the country.
He argued that effective political organisation requires consistent funding, proper planning and logistical support for grassroots organisers, who play critical roles in mobilising members, communicating party messages and maintaining engagement with communities.
“Party organisation is a budget line, not a season” is the central message of his campaign, which places grassroots empowerment and sustainable organisational development at the heart of his bid for the Deputy National Organiser position.
According to him, waiting until election periods to activate party structures risks undermining the continuity and preparedness needed for effective mobilisation. He believes that maintaining active grassroots networks throughout the year would enable the party to build on existing relationships, strengthen communication with its members and respond more effectively to concerns within local communities.
Invest in grassroots structures
Mr Anthony said constituency and regional organisers must have access to the resources, training and administrative support required to discharge their responsibilities effectively.
He noted that organisers are central to the party’s day-to-day operations, yet their ability to perform depends partly on the level of institutional support available to them.
He, therefore, called for a more deliberate approach to resource allocation, with organisational needs identified and addressed before they become urgent during election campaigns.
He also stressed the importance of strengthening coordination between the national leadership and the party’s structures at the regional and constituency levels.
Such coordination, he suggested, would help ensure that organisational activities are aligned with broader party objectives while allowing local organisers to respond to the specific needs of their communities.
Equitable support for constituencies
The Deputy National Organiser aspirant further emphasised the need to recognise differences in the financial and operational capacities of constituencies. He said a sustainable organisational framework should ensure that grassroots structures, including those with limited resources, receive the support necessary to remain functional and engaged.
A coordinated system for identifying local needs and distributing available resources, he argued, could help strengthen the party’s structures nationwide.
For Mr Anthony, the objective is to build an organisation in which grassroots engagement does not depend solely on the availability of election campaign funds, but is sustained through consistent planning and institutional commitment.
He also highlighted the importance of transparent financial practices and clearly defined organisational priorities to ensure that resources allocated to party structures translate into practical support for organisers and members.
Looking beyond 2028
As the NDC prepares for the 2028 general elections, Mr Anthony said the party must look beyond campaign activities and focus on building structures capable of sustaining mobilisation between elections.
He maintained that continuous engagement with party members would help preserve organisational experience, improve communication and maintain the connection between the party’s leadership and its grassroots base.
According to him, a year-round approach would allow the party to approach election periods with established networks and better-coordinated structures rather than having to rebuild momentum when campaigns begin.
His proposed approach places particular emphasis on the people responsible for keeping the party active at the community level, arguing that their contribution must be matched with sustained institutional support.
Mr Anthony’s campaign for Deputy National Organiser is consequently centred on a model of party organisation that prioritises continuity, resource planning and grassroots participation.
He believes that treating organisational development as a permanent investment would provide a framework for strengthening the party’s structures as it prepares for the next electoral cycle.
For him, the message is straightforward: the work of organising the party must continue long after election campaigns have ended.
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