Ghanaian politics has long been characterized by a disturbing trend—one where political leaders use grassroots supporters as mere tools to win power and then abandon them afterward. The people who sacrifice their time, energy, and resources to ensure victory for their parties are often neglected once their leaders assume office. Instead of being rewarded with opportunities for personal growth and national development, they are left at the bottom, struggling while the elites in their parties enjoy the benefits of power.
How Grassroots Supporters Are Used and Dumped
Political parties in Ghana depend heavily on their grassroots supporters to mobilize voters, defend party interests, and engage in the most difficult tasks during campaigns. These loyal foot soldiers take to the streets, organize rallies, mount billboards, distribute campaign materials, and even risk their safety for the success of their party.
But after winning power, the story changes. The party’s top officials shift their focus from the people who fought for victory to their families, close friends, and business associates. Government appointments, contracts, and high-paying jobs are shared among a small elite group, while the grassroots members who worked tirelessly are given nothing but empty promises.
The Deliberate Suppression of Grassroots Supporters
One of the most painful realities of Ghanaian politics is how grassroots supporters are intentionally kept in a position of struggle. Party leaders make sure they remain at the bottom, only useful for doing the “dirty work” needed to keep the party in power. Instead of empowering these loyal members with real opportunities, they are kept in a state of financial dependence, receiving just enough to keep them hopeful but never enough to truly change their lives.
Rather than offering life-changing jobs, many grassroots supporters are given token rewards such as small sums of money, party-branded T-shirts, or temporary favors that do not improve their long-term well-being. Meanwhile, the politicians they helped elect use their positions to secure scholarships, international opportunities, and government contracts for their children and relatives—people who never lifted a finger during the campaign.
Qualified Grassroots Executives Ignored and Abandoned
It is even more heartbreaking to note that many grassroots party executives are highly qualified individuals. Some hold Diplomas, Degrees, and even Master’s Degrees, making them perfectly suited for public service roles. However, once a person is labeled as a grassroots supporter, they are treated as unworthy of holding important positions. Instead of being given opportunities that match their qualifications, they are ignored and forced to remain at the bottom, only relevant when it is time to campaign and defend the party.
The reality is simple: in Ghanaian politics, once you are known as a grassroots supporter, you become useless to the top party officials. No matter how educated or experienced you are, you will always be seen as someone who should remain at the bottom, doing the hard work while others enjoy the rewards of power.
The Need for Grassroots Supporters to Rise Up
Enough is enough! The time has come for grassroots supporters to stand up against discrimination and unfair treatment. Political parties must recognize that loyalty and hard work should be rewarded, not ignored. Those who fight for a party’s success should not be treated as disposable tools, but as valued members who deserve opportunities for progress.
Grassroots supporters must begin to demand fair treatment. Instead of blindly following political leaders who do not care about their well-being, they must hold them accountable and push for a system that rewards loyalty with real opportunities. Until this happens, the cycle of betrayal will continue, and Ghanaian politics will remain an arena where the rich and powerful enjoy, while the loyal and hardworking suffer.
If true change is to happen, grassroots members must refuse to be used and dumped. The future of Ghanaian politics should not be built on selfishness and neglect but on fairness, accountability, and the empowerment of all party members—especially those at the grassroots level.
Ebi Shagi
0248879204
