Sankofaonline Feature: A Legacy of Diasporic Democracy
By Cobby Boahene
Former Chairman, NDC-Chicago | NACC-NDC | NDC-USA Chairman, Council of Elders Member , NDC-USA.
On October 29th, 1995, a seed was planted in Chicago, a seed of vision, unity, and democratic resolve. That day, at the historic DuSable Museum of African American History, the North American Coordinating Council of the National Democratic Congress (NACC–NDC) was inaugurated. It was not merely an event; it was a declaration. A declaration that Ghanaians in the diaspora would no longer be distant spectators in the democratic evolution of their homeland. They would be architects, advocates, and active participants.
The DuSable Museum, steeped in the legacy of African American resilience, was a fitting cradle for this new diasporic movement. It welcomed not only the hopes of a people abroad but also the presence of Ghana’s highest leadership. His Excellency Jerry John Rawlings, then President of the Republic, and Her Excellency Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, then First Lady, graced the occasion with dignity and purpose. Their presence affirmed that the NDC was not just a political entity, it was a family, a movement, and a mission.
That inaugural moment also ushered in the first elected leaders of NACC–NDC: Nii Adjei Okine as Chairman, Dr. Peter Afriyie as Vice Chairman, and Dr. George Lamptey as Secretary. Their courage and commitment laid the foundation for what would become a formidable diaspora institution. We also honor the pivotal role of H.E. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, then Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, whose diplomatic foresight and unwavering support helped transform vision into reality.
From those early steps, the Council evolved, growing in scope, sharpening its mission, and eventually transforming into NDC-USA. This evolution was not cosmetic; it was strategic. It reflected a maturing diaspora, one that understood its power to influence policy, mobilize communities, and shape the democratic narrative of Ghana from abroad.
Today, as we mark the 30th anniversary of that historic inauguration, we do so with pride and reverence. NDC-USA has become a beacon of political education, grassroots mobilization, and transnational solidarity. It has proven that patriotism is not bound by geography and that the Ghanaian spirit thrives wherever it is nurtured.
We pause to honor the gallant comrades who stood with us in those formative years but are no longer with us. Dr. Peter Afriyie, Alhaji Baba Ironman, Ebby Koney Esq., Francis Obeng Ameyaw, Sandy Amoyaw, and many others whose names may not be listed but whose sacrifices are etched in our collective memory. Their legacy lives on in every meeting, every mobilization, and every act of service. May their souls rest in peace.
We also salute our Canadian counterparts, led by Mr. Simon Adzraku, whose solidarity from the onset reminded us that the NDC diaspora was never a city-bound initiative, it was a continental movement. Their support fortified our belief that the struggle for Ghana’s progress is a shared responsibility.
And to our founding visionaries, Kojo Ave, Emil Teinor, Hon. Alhassan Umar, Dr. Justice Salifu, Hon. Charles Hodogbey, Comfort Kokuma Gabriel, Angela Pomary, and many others, we offer our deepest gratitude. Your wisdom, sacrifice, and foresight gave birth to an institution that has endured three decades and continues to inspire.
As we celebrate this milestone, we must also cast our gaze forward. The torch now passes to a new generation of NDC-USA members. They must inherit not only the structures we built but the values that sustained them: unity, loyalty, and service. The vision of October 29th, 1995, was never meant to be static, it was meant to evolve, to adapt, and to grow.
May God bless NDC-USA. May He bless the memory of our departed comrades. And may He guide us all as we journey together into the next thirty years of diasporic democracy.
Long live NDC-USA. Long live Ghana.
