On a campaign tour of the Eastern Region, the founder and flagbearer of Movement for Change, Alan Kwadjo Kyerematen promised to make the Region a hub for scientific research in Ghana and the subregion if elected as President.
He further stated that the region’s strategic proximity to both Greater Accra and Ashanti Region makes it an ideal place for such investment.
“Because of the proximity of Eastern Region to both Greater Accra and Ashanti Region, my vision for this Region is to build the Region a center for excellence for Scientific Research and Technological innovation. I think that if we focus on that, we would be able to attract some of the best science and research capacity and resources.”
Alan Kyeremanten
Since he decamped from the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Alan has embarked on a vigorous campaign across the length and breadth of the country. The campaign took him to some part of Koforidua, the capital of the Eastern region. He assured the People that his words were not mere political promises or campaign slogans. On the contrary, it is part of a well-prepared coherent, and comprehensive strategy designed to address the challenges of the region and Ghana as a whole.
Furthermore, speaking to market women and traders at the Koforidua market, he promised to construct a befitting market structure for the women to ply their trade. On the issue of credit, he assured the traders of his plan to establish a Traders’ Bank to provide them with credit and liquidity for the expansion of their businesses.
However, it is not clear if the bank would be just for traders at Koforidua Market, or an idea he intends to replicate nationwide to ease the challenges of liquidity that plague Market Women Country-wide.
Alan’s Independency, yet to have an impact.
Despite his charisma and popularity, the Movement for Change is yet to have any meaningful impact on the ground, not even on the political scene. Successive opinion polls have predicted a two-horse race between the NPP and its rival the National Democratic Congress (NDC)
Until recently, Alan Kyerematen was a stalwart of the governing New Patriotic Party and a leading member. He held various ministerial appointments under President J.A. Kuffour’s Administration. Moreover, in the current government, he also served as a Minister of Trade.
Politically, Alan is an experienced and steady hand, but as an independent candidate going against two juggernauts the NPP and NDC. Moreso, another question that needs to be asked, is to what extent will Alan’s candidature impact Vice President Bawumia’s fortune?
It is pertinent to note that, Alan is not the only independent candidate making the airwaves. The upcoming election would witness another eccentric candidate Nana Yaw Bediako aka Freedom contesting with Alan and the other leading contenders.
Changing political landscape
Alan would encounter difficulty getting the votes of the Youth, a crucial demography he needs. Having been part of the political establishment, Alan may find it hard to convince the youth to trust him. As far as they are concerned, he was part and parcel of what they despise.
As a young man, Freedom carved a niche for himself as a businessman and his message resonates with the youth. In Ghana, the youth is the biggest voting bloc, and this is the same constituency that Alan would need to upend power from the established duopoly.
Additionally, these days, the youth have become politically active and savvy. Their past aloofness is fading and giving to radical progressive ideas. Apart from becoming politically conscious, the youth are increasingly organizing to push for a new political paradigm.
Consequently, Nana Addo’s government faced days of relentless protest in Accra and other parts of the country. Initial attempts to use force and police service to intimidate and frustrate the protest movement proved unsuccessful. The resilience quickly attracted sympathy and more young folks joined the protest movement.
With the two established parties poised for victory, can Alan outmaneuver, the threat posed by Freedom and New Force to stay relevant in a political turf he knows very well?
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