Kofi Matthew Urges TEIN Members to Build Their “Art” and Sow Their “Seed” for Political Success

Aspiring Central Regional Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Kofi Matthew, has challenged members of the Tertiary Education Institutions Network (TEIN) to deliberately build strong networks and make meaningful contributions to the Party if they aspire to rise through its ranks.

Addressing TEIN members at the Central Regional TEIN Festival, the former Acting Central Regional Secretary introduced what he described as the twin pillars of political growth: “The Art” and “The Seed”. According to him, politics is much like a church, where success and recognition depend on both one’s relationships and one’s contributions.

“Politics is like a church. To make it to heaven, you need both your Art and your Seed,” he told the students. Explaining the concept, he described the Art as the ability to build productive and meaningful networks. He emphasized that political advancement does not happen in isolation and that every party activist must intentionally cultivate relationships across the Party structure. “For anyone to receive recognition in a political party, that person must know someone, and someone must know that person,” he stated. “However, merely knowing people is not enough. You must build relationships strong enough that when opportunities arise, those who know you can confidently mention your name.” Mr. Kofi Matthew stressed that networking should not be viewed as opportunism but rather as the deliberate cultivation of trust, credibility, and mutual respect within the Party.

While acknowledging the importance of networking, he argued that relationships alone cannot sustain political growth. He noted that every network must be complemented by what he termed the Seed. “When your name is mentioned for recognition, the next question will be: ‘What has he or she done for the Party?’ That is where your Seed comes in,” he explained.

According to him, many party activists become frustrated when they see that people they considered as “newcomers” are given certain appointments and recognition ahead of them. He noted that, those are people who have mastered their cultivation and have been able build productive networks and viable seeds. “We all must pay attention and cultivate ours instead of keeping resentment in our hearts”, he said.

Mr. Kofi Matthew identified three major forms of political seed. The first, which he described as the “Leg Seed”, involves active field operations and grassroots participation. This includes occupying leadership positions, attending rallies, participating in demonstrations, and showing up consistently whenever the Party is called upon. The second is the “Brain Seed”, which focuses on intellectual and advocacy contributions. He cited media engagement, policy advocacy, participation in civil society organizations, think tanks, research, and strategic communications as examples of this category. The third is the “Pocket Seed”, which relates to financial contributions and logistical support for Party activities. According to him, while not everyone may possess equal financial capacity, every member can contribute in some way toward sustaining the Party.

The seasoned Party administrator further encouraged TEIN members to actively seek leadership opportunities within the Party, particularly at the branch level, which he described as the foundation of political growth. Drawing from his personal journey, Mr. Kofi Matthew recounted how he transitioned from serving as a TEIN Secretary to becoming a Branch Secretary after being posted as a young teacher. He explained that each leadership opportunity became a stepping stone to higher responsibilities within the Party.

His political journey spans several decades and includes service as Branch Secretary, Constituency Secretary, Deputy Central Regional Secretary, and Acting Central Regional Secretary. He also contested the NDC Parliamentary Primaries in the KEEA Constituency in 2015. Mr. Kofi Matthew, who is currently seeking the mandate of delegates to become the next Central Regional Secretary of the NDC, told the students that leadership positions should not be viewed merely as titles but as opportunities for service, learning, and personal growth.

The engagement was marked by enthusiastic participation from TEIN members from member institutions across the Central Region, many of whom described his address as insightful and practical, particularly because it provided a clear roadmap for young activists seeking to build long-term careers within the Party.

As the NDC continues to strengthen its structures ahead of its internal reorganization, Mr. Kofi Matthew’s message serves as a reminder that political success is built not only on ambition, but also on relationships, service, and sustained commitment to the Party’s cause.

Story by: Alex Donkoh