The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has unveiled a six-volume publication chronicling the party’s history alongside the political evolution of Ghana’s Fourth Republic. The collection, presented to party leadership this week, marks a deliberate effort to preserve institutional memory and create a structured archive for future generations.
Spanning the party’s formation to the present, the volumes compile media coverage, leadership Elections, manifesto development, constitutional reforms, and other defining milestones. Among the documents reproduced are the NDC’s original registration papers submitted to the Electoral Commission, complete with the signatures of its founding members.
Copies were formally handed to the party’s National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, ahead of a public launch scheduled for September 28 at the University of Professional Studies, Accra. Receiving the set, Asiedu Nketiah described the project as the first phase of a wider initiative to systematize the party’s record-keeping.
“We will move ahead to a point where we will be able to document the minutes of our meetings,” he said. “When you want to refer to a decision the party has ever taken, you should be able to trace the meeting, the date and the minutes to see exactly how those decisions were made.”
He highlighted the manifesto volume as a lens on shifting national priorities across election cycles. “When you read the manifesto scroll closely, it gives you an indication of what the national needs were at the time those manifestos were prepared. It helps people appreciate where the nation has come from,” he added.
Another volume traces amendments to the party’s constitution, offering historical context for current debates on internal governance. Asiedu Nketiah also reflected on the transition from handpicked parliamentary candidates to competitive primaries, illustrating how the NDC’s democratic structures have matured.
Oswald Okaitei, a member of the book launch planning committee, said the official event will feature panel discussions with political figures and academics reviewing selected chapters. The sessions aim to stimulate conversation on the party’s role in Ghana’s democratic trajectory.
Beyond its archival value, the publication carries a social dimension. Proceeds from sales are earmarked for cancer treatment and the cardio therapy unit at a designated Health facility. The party has urged both members and the general public to support the initiative through purchases.
The project arrives at a moment when Ghana’s political parties face growing scrutiny over transparency and institutional accountability. By codifying its own history, the NDC positions the archive as both a reference for scholars and a benchmark for internal discipline. The September launch is expected to draw wider attention to the intersection of political memory and public service in Ghana’s evolving democracy.