Many mixed views have since been shared by sections of the public since the withdrawal of Hon. Alan Kwadjo Kyerematen from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearership race.
Some received the news with utter shock since the former Trade Minister is a formidable force in the NPP and were hoping to see Mr. Kyerematen emerge with more votes, if not, winning the super delegates congress.
Others were not too surprised. They believed that Alan belonged to the old generation of NPP leaders whose era is gradually dwindling; therefore pulling out from the flagbearership race would avert a greater humiliation in the main delegates congress.
Both narratives could be true.
Many people also believed that his campaign lacked a clear message aside the slogan ADURO WO SO, which they believed was too boring to win the hearts of delegates considering the times we find ourselves.
In his press release on Tuesday, he made several allegations pointing to the NPP party’s quest to favour one candidate ahead of the others in the race for a leader of the party in the 2024 general elections.
“After having carefully analysed the results of the said elections, it is absolutely clear to me from events leading to, during and after the elections, that the Special Delegates Conference was strategically and tactically skewed in favour of one particular Aspirant,” he wrote.
Considering all the happenings in the party before, during and after the super delegates congress last month, it is clear that the NPP top hierarchy have a candidate of choice and it is obviously not Alan Kyerematen who was “promised” that he would lead the party after conceding to the then candidate Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo (currently the President of the Republic of Ghana), in 2007.
Fast forward after 16 years a new “lover boy”, in the person of Dr. Bawumia, who is considered youthful, outspoken, “digital” and also believed to be the nightmare of the opposition NDC party, emerges as a strong contender for the flagbearership race. This is evident in the way and manner the party has dedicated scarce monetary resources, personnel and logistics to support his campaign at the expense of the other aspirants.
After critically examining all the trends, I can say that there’s still a way out for Mr. Kyerematen. Pulling out of the race is a bold step.
Alan’s redrawal can pipeline a third force
Imagine if the other three aspirants namely Kennedy Agyapong, Owusu Afriyie and Addai Nimoh boycott the November 4 elections to buttress Alan’s call for a level playing ground for the contest. There is also the option of forming a stronger force with the three candidates to form a new political party as the third force for the upcoming general elections as they team up with CPP and or PNC parties.
This is going to weaken the NPP party and lower their chances of winning the 2024 general elections. Don’t forget that the NPP party has lost the love of the general electoral public due to their abysmal performance in government and the mismanagement of the public purse which has culminated in the hardships being suffered by all manner of persons including business owners, employees, traders, and so on.
As a matter of urgency, the Council of Elders should call the National Executives Council to order to salvage the image and credibility of the congress and the party as a whole.
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Story by : Nana Obiri Larbi | univers.ug.edu.gh
Email: ilarbi2000@gmail.com
