Aspiring National Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr. Edem Segbefia, has commended the administration of President John Dramani Mahama for what he described as significant reforms in Ghana’s Interior sector, urging the NDC grassroots to take the achievements to every community and broaden the government’s development narrative.
Dr. Segbefia made the remarks during an interactive engagement with grassroots representatives and party supporters in the Greater Accra Region, where he outlined the reforms being undertaken across the Interior sector and their potential impact on ordinary Ghanaians.
According to him, the transformation of the Interior sector represents an important component of President Mahama’s broader effort to restore confidence in government institutions, strengthen public safety and improve service delivery.
He argued that prior to the NDC’s return to government in January 2025, the Interior Ministry and several of its agencies faced serious challenges, including inadequate resources, low morale, overstretched personnel and deteriorating infrastructure.
He noted that these challenges affected the ability of security and emergency-response institutions to effectively serve citizens, creating a perception among many Ghanaians that the state was unable to adequately protect lives and property.
Dr. Segbefia said President Mahama’s renewed focus on the Interior sector is anchored on “security, justice and service delivery for the people.”
The Interior sector, he noted, encompasses critical institutions including the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Prisons Service, Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Immigration Service, Narcotics Control Commission and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).
Strengthening the Police Service
Dr. Segbefia highlighted the provision of patrol vehicles, motorbikes, body cameras and modern communication equipment to strengthen police operations in communities, markets, highways and other crime-prone areas.
He also pointed to recruitment and training initiatives designed to increase police personnel, strengthen community policing and improve officers’ knowledge of human rights, modern crime-fighting techniques and emerging threats such as cybercrime.
According to him, increased police visibility in crime hotspots in Accra, Kumasi and other urban centres is helping to create safer communities.
He further cited efforts to upgrade forensic capabilities, improve police accommodation and provide better working conditions, including the timely payment of allowances, transfer grants and pensions.
For the Greater Accra grassroots, Dr. Segbefia said, these interventions have practical implications.
“When our markets are safe, traders can work without fear. When armed robbery and street crime decline, businesses can grow. When the police have the resources to respond quickly, communities regain confidence in government,” he said.
Prison Reforms and Skills Development
Dr. Segbefia also commended reforms within the Ghana Prisons Service, including the construction and renovation of prison facilities to address overcrowding and improve sanitation, healthcare and general living conditions.
He said inmates were increasingly being given opportunities to acquire practical skills in areas such as tailoring, carpentry, farming and information and communication technology.
Such interventions, he explained, would help prisoners acquire employable skills and reintegrate into society after serving their sentences.
He further noted that improved feeding, healthcare, sanitation and infrastructure were essential to restoring dignity within the correctional system.
Modernising the Ghana National Fire Service
According to Dr. Segbefia, the Ghana National Fire Service has also benefited from the deployment of modern fire tenders, rescue equipment, personal protective equipment, water tankers and other operational logistics.
He said the strengthening of fire stations, emergency call centres and coordination mechanisms would improve response times and help protect homes, businesses, markets and public institutions.
He cited fire-safety inspections in markets, schools and fuel stations as important preventive measures, particularly in Greater Accra, where densely populated communities and commercial centres remain vulnerable to fire outbreaks.
For market women and small-business owners, he said, a faster emergency response could mean the difference between saving a business and losing a lifetime’s investment.
Immigration and Border Security
Dr. Segbefia further highlighted measures aimed at strengthening Ghana’s borders through improved surveillance, patrol vehicles, drones and collaboration among security agencies.
He said such measures were important in combating human trafficking, illegal entry and other cross-border crimes.
He also welcomed improvements in passport and visa processing, arguing that faster and more transparent services would benefit young Ghanaians seeking educational and employment opportunities abroad.
He urged the NDC grassroots to communicate these improvements to their communities and encourage citizens to take advantage of legitimate government services rather than relying on intermediaries and unnecessary delays.
Tackling Drug Trafficking
On the fight against narcotics, Dr. Segbefia pointed to strengthened operations by the Narcotics Control Commission, including improved surveillance and enforcement at strategic entry points such as Kotoka International Airport and the Tema Port.
He also emphasised the importance of education and prevention, particularly among young people.
He called on NDC grassroots structures to support community and school-based education campaigns aimed at preventing drug abuse and protecting the youth.
Strengthening NADMO and Disaster Response
Dr. Segbefia also drew attention to the role of NADMO in responding to floods, fires, dam spillages and other disasters.
He said improved logistics, warehouses, vehicles, early-warning mechanisms and trained community volunteers would enable the organisation to respond more effectively to emergencies.
He particularly referenced flood-prone communities and urged grassroots structures to support disaster-preparedness initiatives rather than waiting until disasters occur before mobilising assistance.
According to him, when NADMO arrives with relief supplies during a flood or other emergency, citizens see directly how government intervention can protect families and restore livelihoods.
Grassroots Opportunities
Dr. Segbefia said the Interior sector reforms should not remain confined to government offices and official reports but must translate into tangible opportunities for the NDC grassroots and ordinary citizens.
He urged branch and constituency executives to actively monitor recruitment opportunities within the Police Service, Fire Service, Prisons Service, Immigration Service and other relevant institutions and help qualified young people understand application requirements, documentation and preparation.
He stressed that party structures must, however, ensure that qualified applicants follow the official recruitment process.
He also identified opportunities for local businesses and artisans, including suppliers of food, building materials, vehicle maintenance services, logistics and other support services required by security institutions.
“Farmers, traders, mechanics, spare-parts dealers, caterers and other local businesses can all participate in legitimate supply chains created by government institutions,” he said.
Dr. Segbefia encouraged constituency and regional executives to engage security commanders, fire officers, immigration authorities and other institutional leaders to understand legitimate opportunities for local businesses and communities.
“Tell the Story in Your Community”
Dr. Segbefia urged NDC grassroots activists to make government achievements visible at the community level.
He said branch meetings, community engagements, market interactions and local activities should be used to explain how improvements in security and emergency services affect ordinary citizens.
“When crime drops in your area, tell the story. When the Fire Service responds faster, tell the story. When a young person is legitimately recruited into the security services, tell the story.
When a passport is processed efficiently, tell the story. When NADMO responds to a flood and supports affected families, tell the story,” he urged.
He said the responsibility of the NDC grassroots was not simply to celebrate government achievements but to connect those achievements to the everyday experiences of citizens.
Greater Accra Must Lead the Narrative
Focusing particularly on Greater Accra, Dr. Segbefia said the region must take advantage of the Interior sector reforms to strengthen community safety and deepen engagement between citizens and security institutions.
He pointed to major commercial and transport centres such as Makola, Kaneshie, Circle, Tema and Ashaiman, where effective policing and rapid emergency response are critical to protecting livelihoods.
He encouraged NDC executives to participate in community-police engagements, support crime-prevention initiatives and work with chiefs, assembly members, market leaders, youth groups and other stakeholders to identify local security challenges.
He said the NDC’s grassroots structures should become active partners in building safer communities rather than merely commentators on security challenges.
“The Glory Belongs to the People”
Dr. Segbefia maintained that the ultimate measure of Interior sector reforms should be the extent to which ordinary citizens experience greater security, dignity and confidence in public institutions.
He said the NDC must continue to demonstrate that political power is meaningful only when it improves people’s lives.
“When a trader in Makola can go to work without fear, when a fire truck arrives on time in Ashaiman, when a young Ghanaian secures a legitimate opportunity to serve in the Police or Fire Service, when a passport is processed efficiently, and when NADMO brings relief to a family affected by floods, that is government working for the people,” he stated.
He argued that such tangible improvements could strengthen public confidence in the NDC and provide the grassroots with a credible message to take to voters.
Dr. Segbefia therefore called on NDC supporters across Greater Accra to remain organised, communicate government achievements responsibly and ensure that the benefits of public-sector reforms reach communities across the region.
He said the party’s grassroots must remain focused on building stronger relationships with the people, protecting government’s reform agenda and demonstrating that the NDC remains committed to security, service, opportunity and the welfare of ordinary Ghanaians.
He concluded with a rallying message to the grassroots:
“NDC has strengthened the Police. NDC has equipped the Fire Service. NDC is reforming our prisons. NDC is improving immigration services. NDC is strengthening disaster response. NDC is protecting Greater Accra. NDC cares.”
For Dr. Edem Segbefia, the task ahead is therefore clear: mobilise the youth, communicate the reforms, connect government policies to community needs, support legitimate local economic opportunities and take the achievements of the Mahama administration directly to the people.
The glory, he said, belongs ultimately to the people—and to the grassroots who continue to stand firmly behind the NDC’s development agenda.
Story: Patrick Asford Boadu
