JAK-UP launches six-pillar manifesto for NDC Volta youth race; files nomination

Kwame Junior Asiemoah, popularly known as JAK-UP, has formally entered the contest for the position of Volta Regional Youth Organizer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) after filing his nomination and unveiling his campaign manifesto in Ho.

The event, held at the NDC Volta Regional Office, brought together party youth and supporters as JAK-UP outlined his vision for the youth wing ahead of the regional contest.

Having served as Deputy Regional Youth Organizer, JAK-UP is positioning his experience within the party as a key part of his campaign as he seeks to take charge of the regional youth structure.

His manifesto, built around six key pillars, focuses on strengthening the organisation of the youth wing, expanding opportunities for young people and creating structures to promote their economic and personal development.

Speaking at the launch, JAK-UP said the contest should be about more than ambition and electoral mobilisation, arguing that effective leadership requires experience, preparation, commitment and an understanding of the responsibilities attached to office.

He said his manifesto was intended to provide a practical framework against which his leadership could be assessed.

“Leadership must bemobilisationt merely by what it promises, but by what it delivers,” he said.

JAK-UP said he wanted to build an NDC youth wing that would remain relevant to young people beyond election periods.

He said the youth wing should not only mobilise members for electoral victories but also provide them with skills, networks, resources and opportunities that could improve their lives.

One of the flagship proposals in his manifesto is the establishment of a Youth Opportunity Centre, which he said would serve as a dedicated platform for young people to access information on scholarships, job opportunities and capacity-building programmes.

He criticised what he described as a system in which access to opportunities often depends on personal connections.

The proposed centre, he said, would help create a more organised and accessible system for connecting young people to available opportunities.

JAK-UP also highlighted the proposed Volta Youth Drive, which he said would seek to promote the region’s tourism potential and translate its attractions into economic opportunities for young people.

He said the initiative would build on the region’s reputation for cleanliness while encouraging activities that could attract visitors and create opportunities for young people.

JAK-UP said the manifesto was ultimately aimed at creating a youth wing in which every constituency matters and every member has a sense of belonging.

He pledged to provide more details on the six pillars and their implementation as the campaign progresses.

Campaign gathers attention

The filing and manifesto launch mark a significant step in JAK-UP’s bid to lead the NDC’s youth wing in the Volta Region.

His campaign has attracted support from some constituency youth organisers and other young members of the party, with his previous experience as Deputy Regional Youth Organizer forming part of his pitch to delegates.

The contest is expected to focus on competing visions for the future of the NDC youth wing and how candidates intend to translate their promises into practical benefits for young party members across the region.