The NDC Polling Agents Network (PAN-NDC) has responded to recent comments by Hon. Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor and other party figures calling for an upward review of the military recruitment age limit. According to the network, while the suggestion may appear well-intentioned, it does not address the core issues affecting the party’s grassroots members.
In a statement, PAN-NDC explained that the real challenge facing thousands of polling agents and foot soldiers is not age, but neglect and lack of inclusion. The group noted that, nearly nine months into the NDC administration, many loyal members who worked tirelessly during the elections are still at home, struggling and forgotten despite several promises made to them.
“The issue goes beyond age limits,” the statement said. “We have submitted petitions to several offices, yet no meaningful results have been achieved. Calls made to some MPs, appointees, and key executives are often ignored. When you confront them, they tell you polling agents have already been sorted because they were reportedly paid GHC 500 based on contracts. This explanation is both unfortunate and non-inclusive, as many dedicated members of the party have received nothing.”
The network further added, “This is a party we all love and worked hard to bring to power. How come some now think they have more right than the rest of us?” The group said such attitudes weaken unity and dampen the spirit of volunteerism among the party’s true grassroots.
PAN-NDC also revealed that some of its members, for the sake of the party, had to abandon the jobs they were doing in order to focus fully on campaign activities and ensure victory in the 2024 elections. “Today, some of these members across the country are out of work. They are home, finding it very difficult to feed their families and cater for their children’s needs,” the group lamented. “It is disheartening to see this happening, especially when our party has not come to our aid in terms of recruitment into the various sectors of the economy. We believe this situation reflects a lack of recognition and appreciation for the risks and sacrifices that the grassroots made during the 2024 elections.”
PAN-NDC added that while revising the military recruitment age may be useful, the broader question is how the government intends to create opportunities across all sectors for those who worked for the party’s success. “It is not enough to focus on the army when academic qualifications and other barriers continue to block access for committed grassroots members,” they noted.
The group emphasized that its call is not an attack on any individual but a plea for fairness and genuine representation. “We believe in the values of inclusion and justice that our great party stands for. Pretending to fight for the grassroots while ignoring their actual struggles only deepens disappointment and mistrust,” the statement added.
PAN-NDC therefore calls on the leadership of the party and government appointees to show true commitment to the base of the NDC by ensuring that loyal members are meaningfully engaged and supported — especially through employment opportunities in the public sector. The network insists that real empowerment will come only when words are matched with action and when every grassroots member feels seen, valued, and rewarded for their service to the party and to Ghana.
By Julius Blay JABS
