Disappointed presidential hopeful of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen will address the public tomorrow [Monday, September 25] on his political future.
The address will take place at 2:00 p.m. at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra.
This follows the decision of the former Trade and Industry Minister to withdraw from the presidential race of the NPP three weeks ago.
While announcing his decision to withdraw from the race on September 5 after the super delegates’ conference in which he shockingly emerged third, he cited electoral irregularities, unfair treatment and bias during the super delegates’ conference.
According to him, he feared the issues he outlined would repeat themselves in the final November 4 primary if he stayed in the race.
At the time of announcing the withdrawal, he indicated that in due course, he ‘would provide an indication of the role that he will play in politics in Ghana, after consultations with his family and other well-wishers, various stakeholders and interest groups.’
While accepting his withdrawal, the NPP disagreed with the claim that the election had been tilted in favour of any candidate.
Nonetheless, the party said it was already investigating pockets of incidents recorded during the super delegates’ conference, some of which Mr Kyerematen referenced in his statement – particularly how his coordinator in the North East Region was allegedly assaulted and injured during voting.
Mr Kyeremanten’s performance in the first exercise to select only five candidates for the main election in November was a surprise to many since he was considered the main contender to the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.
While Dr Bawumia polled (629) of the total votes cast representing 68.15%, Mr. Kyeremanten polled 95 votes representing 10.82%, while the Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong came second with 132 votes, representing 15.03%.
There have been suggestions that Alan may attempt to break away from the party, go independent or in the worst-case scenario, quit the party as he did briefly prior to the 2008 elections where he had similar issues after losing the presidential primaries of the NPP to Nana Akufo-Addo.
While some political analysts have suggested that Mr Kyerematen could make some inroads if he decides to go solo, a Senior Political Science Lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Dr Kwasi Amakye Boateng, has asked Mr Kyerematen to discard any plan to run as an independent candidate or lead a breakaway party.
Dr Amakye Boateng stated emphatically that the former Trade and Industry Minister stands no chance at all.
“Small parties have not survived in Ghana from the time of the struggle for independence till date. Small parties have not fared well. If he [Alan] stands as an independent candidate even Ashanti Region will not vote for him.
He buttressed this point with the fact that, out of over 120 delegates who voted in the NPP’s super delegates’ conference in the Ashanti Region, only 10 voted for Alan.
Dr Amakye Boateng said Alan’s performance in the Ashanti Region was terrible, and that “a similar thing will happen if he stands as an independent candidate. The people of Ashanti Region say they support the NPP, and so even if you put a goat there, they will vote for it. Alan shouldn’t forget about that” he postulated.
According to the political scientist, Mr Kyerematen had already lost his grip and influence within the NPP long before the election, adding he would have lost terribly in the November 4 presidential primaries just as he did in the super delegates’ conference if he had not pulled out.
He said Mr Kyerematen’s decision to withdraw from the race did not come to him as a surprise.
Although he disagreed with Alan’s claims about a super delegates’ conference that was characterised by violence except for the pockets of incidents, Dr Amakye Boateng agreed with the notion that the decision to hold the election at different points rather than a central location, allowed for influence peddling and may have given others an advantage in the exercise.
