The leader of the Movement for Change, Mr. Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, has refuted assertion made by Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, that Vice Presidents often lack the leverage to influence policy, as an attempt by the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party to escape liability for the economic hardships that have been created by the government of the day.
Mr. Kyerematen dismissed Dr Bawumia’s claim by making comparisons with previous government particularly that of the late Prof. John Evans Atta Mills and now candidate John Mahama. He believes the latter was able to continue some of the good policies of the late President Mills because he was directly involved in it.
The case of Dr. Bawumia is no different, he emphasized, since the President, Nana Akufo-Addo, has delegated several responsibilities to him. Mr. Kyerematen thought it would have been more appropriate had the Vice President accepted some responsibility for the hardships the country face and not dissociate himself because he now wants to be President.
“This theory that if you are vice president you don’t have the leverage to do anything that is not true. In the case of late former President J.E Mills, he literally gave everything to then Vice President Mahama, including the opportunity to lead processes. It is the same thing. President Akufo-Addo has also given the Vice President (Dr Bawumia) every opportunity to lead processes of governance.”
Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen
When asked about his involvement in a failed administration as minister of Trades and Industry, founder and leader of Movement for Change, Mr. Kyerematen, answered that ministers only provide policy direction but executive authority at the highest level make the final decision.
“There’s no doubt about that, how is it even possible to deny that you have been a minister and say that you are not part of a system? But that is not the case, you are talking about being a minister, governments are not run by ministers.
It’s about the executive authority at the highest level. You provide the direction as a minister”, says Alan Kyerematen.
He added that his involvement and experience in government as Trades Minister better positions him as one to turn the economy of Ghana around and asked the good people of Ghana to give him their vote in the forthcoming general elections.
Alan Kyerematen Claims To Be The Change Ghanaians Need
The presidential candidate for the Movement for Change, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, said in an interview that the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress have nothing new to offer Ghanaians and that his Movement is the only viable option of the two.
Without mincing words, he chastised the two political parties for their consistent mismanagement of the economy and heavy dependence on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) when things eventually go south.
He acknowledged the disappointment of Ghanaians with the current duopoly when he questioned,
“Do you sincerely believe that, generally, people are looking for change in this country? People want to go beyond the duopoly. The two political parties [NDC, NPP] for the last 32 years, whatever, they can do, we have all seen what they can do”.
Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen
As leader of the Movement for Change, he petitioned Ghanaians to consider his movement as one well positioned to find lasting solutions to their economic woes as the general election approaches.
The former Trades Minister highlighted his active involvement in erstwhile President Kuffuor’s administration as Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, and current President Akufo-Addo as Trades Minister until his resignation. He described the One-District-One-Factory as one of his many contributions to the present government that have been revolutionary.
He stressed upon his popularity across the Central, Ashanti and Volta regions respectively where thousands of Ghanaian youths are actively campaigning for his candidacy.
“I have more gravitas in Volta and Central Regions, arguably, than any of the candidates showing up on the radar [Mahama, Bawumia]. Within NPP, it was generally acknowledged if it’s the Volta region, it’s Alan’s territory. I have massive support in the Ashanti region,” Alan said.
Mr. Kyerematen is expected in the coming days to unveil his revolutionary one hundred and twenty (120) interventions categorized under various sectors of the economy as the general election draws nigh.
