Lawrence Adonis Addo Cheremeh, popularly known as Kojo Addo, has joined the race for Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Jaman South.
He comes into the contest with more than two decades of experience in journalism, media management, political communication, community activities and organisational leadership.
Kojo Addo is a professional journalist, media executive, communication practitioner and entrepreneur.
Over the years, he has worked in senior positions including Chief Producer, Programmes Manager, Managing Editor and Managing Director.
His professional journey has taken him through major media platforms including Happy FM/Happyghana.com, Adom FM/Adomonline.com, Hot FM, Top Media Group, Atinka Media Village/Tobinco Media Group, Coastal FM and theghanavoice.com.
A HAND IN COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
But Kojo Addo’s connection with Jaman South goes beyond politics and the newsroom.
He has been involved in a number of activities aimed at promoting entertainment, culture and community participation in the area.
He is credited with bringing Di Asa, one of Ghana’s contemporary entertainment and talent programmes, to Drobo and Japekrom when he was the then Head of Program s and Production at the Atinka Media Village (AMV) , which has been rebranded to Tobinco Media Group.
He is also credited to have given prominence to a number of radio talents as well as politicians from Jaman on National media platforms.
The move gave people in the area an opportunity to experience the programme locally while giving local talents a platform to participate.
Kojo Addo , also previously served on the Board of the now-defunct Miss Jaman Beauty Contest and was one of the judges of the competition.
He currently serves as Secretary to the Board of Jaman Nkabom Afahye, where he continues to contribute to the organisation of the community’s cultural and social activities.
For him, these experiences have provided practical lessons in bringing people together, working with different stakeholders and organising community-based activities.
HIS POLITICAL JOURNEY
Kojo Addo is an alumnus of the NDC Party School’s Institute of Social Democracy (ISD).
He says his involvement with the NDC in Jaman South has also been consistent over the years.
Since 2018, he has supported the NDC , including welfare assistance, communication support, mobilisation and financial contributions towards branch and constuency activities.
During the 2024 general elections, he voluntarily served as a backup election agent and supervisor, giving him first-hand experience in election organisation and grassroots mobilisation.
He says these experiences have strengthened his belief that a strong political organisation must remain connected to its grassroots.
WHY VICE CHAIRMAN?
Kojo Addo says his decision to contest the Vice Chairmanship is deliberate.
He does not see the position as an opportunity to create another centre of power within the constituency.
Rather, he wants to work alongside the Constituency Chairman and the other executives to strengthen the party’s organisation and communication.
His approach is summed up in five words:
LISTEN • CONNECT • DEVELOP • COMMUNICATE • DELIVER
He says he wants to see stronger engagement with branches and polling-station structures, better communication within the constituency and more deliberate efforts to connect young people, women, professionals and community groups to opportunities.
BRINGING PEOPLE AND OPPORTUNITIES TOGETHER
Kojo Addo’s career has taken him into journalism, media management, communication, business and community activities.
Along the way, he has built relationships with people and institutions across different sectors.
He believes those relationships can be useful to Jaman South, particularly in building stronger connections between the grassroots, Constituency Executive, Regional and National structures, as well as relevant institutions and partners outside the party.
But he insists that his ambition is not about having a title.
“I am not coming to compete with the Chairman.
I am offering myself to complement the Chairman and strengthen the Constituency Executive. I want to bring my experience, relationships and energy to the service of the party and the people of Jaman South.”
Kojo Addo says the Vice Chairman must be someone who is available to the grassroots, willing to work with others and ready to take responsibility when called upon.
His ambition, he says, is to contribute to building a constituency organisation that is more accessible, better connected, better organised and responsive to its members.
For Kojo Addo, the message is straightforward:
LISTEN. CONNECT. DEVELOP. COMMUNICATE. DELIVER.
