The Movement for Change’s leader, Mr Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, has disputed allegations that former President John Kufuor manipulated the New Patriotic Party’s 2007 presidential primaries process to favour his candidacy.
Mr. Kyerematen, who just left the New Patriotic Party to run for president in 2024 as an independent candidate, said it is wrong and based on hearsay to attribute his candidacy only to President Kufuor’s influence.
The former presidential aspirant of the New Patriotic clarified that he was treated similarly to other aspirants during the 2007 presidential race by President Kufuor.
“When I went to inform President Kufour that I had an interest and that my other colleagues had started moves undercover and that if he sees me also operating he should not be surprised, he told me to wait and do my work and that if people felt that I was the right person, they would promote me”.
Alan Kyerematen
According to the former Minister of Trade and Industry, it is unfair to President Kufour for people to create the impression that because he was his favourite, he did all in his power to install him as his heir apparent.
He indicated that in 2005, all the people who eventually contested the 2007 presidential primaries had started doing underground moves and operations so he went to inform President Kufour of his decision to contest but the former president asked him to wait and work.
According to Mr Alan Kyrerematen three months later when he went back to the former president he openly told him he could not support his candidature.
“I went back three months after to tell him that people are campaigning openly and so I want to serve you notice that I will be going and he said, I cannot stop you but I want to tell you that, I will not support you and if there are people that I will support, it will be Nana Akufo-Addo, Aliu Mahama, Papa Owusu Ankomah, and then yourself and if any of you wins, I will be happy.”
Alan Kyerematen
I Declined President Kufour’s Ministerial Appointment In 2001
Mr Alan Kyerematen, also indicated that even though he chaired President Kufour Ministerial Appointment Committee after the party’s victory in the 2000 elections he declined President Kufour’s appointment offer, a decision according to him President Kufour was very displeased about.
He noted that it was later that President Kufour convinced him to take the Ghanaian ambassadorial position to the United States of America.
“Among the many senior members closer to President Kufour like Kwadwo Mpiani among others, he nominated me to chair his Ministerial Appointment Committee. In fact when President Kufour won the 2000 election I was the first person he offered Ministerial appointment on the account of my competence and capacity but I declined”.
Alan Kyerematen
The former Minister of Trade and Industry further stated that because he was a UN official at the time he worked at the background and was also the Chairman of the Young Executive Club to champion the work of the party to win the 2000 elections.
The former flagbearer aspirant for New Patriotic Party presidential primaries, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen resigned from the New Patriotic Party on Monday, September 25, 2023, and announced a four-point agenda for his bid to contest the 2024 General Elections as an independent presidential candidate.
Announcing his bid for the presidency on Monday, September 25, 2023, Mr Kyerematen, the former Trades and Industry Minister said to actualize his goal as an independent presidential candidate he will establish and lead a new MOVEMENT FOR CHANGE in Ghana.
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