The General Secretary of the Convention People’s Party, Nana Yaa Akyempim Jantuah, has said Alan Kyerematen is a formidable force whose breakaway will definitely cost the New Patriotic Party’s 2024 electoral fortunes.
According to Madam Jantuah, the New Patriotic Party’s press conference and the call for calm among the party’s members was a clear indication of the weight the former Trade and Industry Minister, Alan Kyerematen holds in the party.
She mentioned that the breakaway of Mr Kyerematen will cause a stir through the rank and file of the party ahead of the 2024 General Elections.
“So if he has resigned, why do you even do a press conference? If Alan is not important? If Alan is not going to cause a stir? If the butterfly is not going to enter the trunk of the elephant for the elephant to go crazy, why are they talking? Why do you even do a press conference because Alan left? So why should they (NPP Members) be asked to be calm? It means Alan is formidable.”
Nana Yaa Akyempim Jantuah
Furthering, she debunked any perception that the breakaway will not affect the NPP, especially in the diaspora where according to Madam Jantuah, Mr. Kyerematen is more popular.
“Nobody can say Alan will not take something from the NPP. Alan is more popular in the diaspora than in Ghana.”
Nana Yaa Akyempim Jantuah
Nana Yaa Jantuah stressed that, Mr. Kyerematen should have left the party long ago because it was evident that his party did not accept him.
“And he has even wasted too much time. Alan should have left the New Patriotic Party a long time ago. The signs that they didn’t want him were there. It was clear.”
Nana Yaa Akyempim Jantuah
She therefore underscored that, it would have served Mr Kyerematen’s interest better if he had not recalled his decision to resign in 2008. As an alternative, she opined that Mr. Kyerematen should have pursued a parliamentary seat rather than the ministerial role he took for six years under the Akufo-Addo regime. In Madam Jantuah’s opinion, that would have kept Mr. Kyerematen closer to the people than the ministerial office.
“If he stayed then, maybe he would have charted his own path in a better fashion than now. He said intimidation never stopped. Maybe when he resigned, he should have stayed in and did what he wanted to do. He should have gone for a parliamentary seat. that would have kept him closer to the people.”
Nana Yaa Akyempim Jantuah
NPP Supressed Divergent Views Of Founding Members
She noted that the NPP had over the years made Mr. Kyerematen very uneasy and suppressed his opinions on matters even though he had been a member of the founding of the party. She entreated the party and the public to tolerate his freedom as part of a healing process from the years of disappointment.
“If you are in a certain environment and you are being intimidated, you find it very difficult to even come out to speak. Even as a founding member, you can be intimidated. You have a structure that has been set aside around you to make you uncomfortable. He is talking now because he is free. No one should gag him. It is therapy. Where he wants to go and talk, he shouldWhen people are pained you have to allow them to speak and it will take their pain out.”
Nana Yaa Akyempim Jantuah
She believed that the best judge of the actions of Mr. Kyerematen is posterity than any person and appealed that Mr. Kyerematen should be allowed to express himself freely.
In response to the NPP Chairman’s remarks, calling on Mr. Kyerematen to follow his example of long service until he finally became chairman and wait for his time too, she said Alan would be too old if he waited to become president on the ticket of the NPP.
READ ALSO: Kwakye Ofosu Jabs Alan Kyerematen For Attacking NDC And Mahama
