Hon Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen, Minister for Trade and Industry has resigned from his position in the Akuffo Addo led government.

Several sources close to the minister revealed that he presented his resignation letter to President Nana Akuffo Addo yesterday Jan 5, 2023.

Reports indicate that he has been given a few days to wrap up his role to handover.

Hon Kyeremanten is one of the frontline candidates expected to contest for the flagbearership of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).

The Minister who is popularly known as ‘Alan Cash’ has long been rumoured to be nursing his ambition to contest the flagbearership, but it’s quite unclear if his resignation is to permit him to concentrate on that ambition.

In 2017, Kyerematen was sworn in as Ghana’s Trade Minister. Alan Kyerematen served in the same position between 2003 and 2007.

The 67 years old politician has an extensive and distinguished record in international trade and public policy, enterprise development, politics and diplomacy.

It could be recalled that a member of the Alan for President 2024 campaign team, Hopeson Adorye, in November 2022, indicated that Alan Kyerematen, will heed the calls to resign to pursue his ambitions of leading the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the 2024 general elections only if the economy stabilises.

According to him, Hon Kyerematen had a role to play in ensuring Ghana’s economy is brought back on track.

Mr Kyeremanteng made his first attempt to lead the New Patriotic Party as its flagbearer in 2007 but failed in his bid as His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo emerged as the winner. He further made other attempts in 2010 and 2014 but was unsuccessful.

In the 2020 presidential election, President Akufo-Addo who was going for a second term was given a popular endorsement, as he entered the race unopposed.

With his exit after 2024, the NPP is looking for a successor and Mr Kyerematen has been lacing his boots to take over, but not without a strong challenge from the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, who is also tipped to enter the race.

Other aspirants, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, Member of Parliament for Assin Central, former General Secretary of the NPP, Kwabena Agyei Agyapong and the Minister of Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto have all expressed interest to enter the race when the doors are formally opened.

The NPP has not fixed a date for the presidential primary but it is anticipated it will be held before the end of 2023.

Achievements

Alan Kyerematen has been a leading stalwart and key strategist of the NPP since its inception in 1992. He is a founding member of the Party and has also served on the highest decision-making bodies of the NPP that shaped the Party’s strategic direction both in opposition and in Government.

The former Minister served on the NPP National Executive Committee, serving as a Member from 1992 to 2001 as well as on the Economic Management Team and Finance Committee of the NPP.

The politician has been championing the government’s One District One Factory initiative since 2018, birthing about 170 factories across the country.

Mr Kyerematen was Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States in President Kufuor’s first term, 2001 to 2003. As Ghana’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Presidential Special Initiatives from 2003 to 2007, he led the design, development and implementation of innovative programmes and special interventions which have become new strategic pillars of growth for the Ghanaian economy.

The politician, served as a trade advisor at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he coordinated the African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC). He also played a key role in shaping Africa’s Trade Policy agenda in the WTO, the EU-ACP Economic Partnership Negotiations, AGOA and UNCTAD.