Davis Ansah Opoku, the MP for Mpraeso, has described the decision by the former trade minister Alan Kyerematen to resign from the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) as “profoundly disappointing.”
The former trade minister has jumped the NPP ship, barely a month after he withdrew from the party’s presidential primaries citing bias.
Addressing the media on Monday (25 September), Kyerematen said he will contest the 2024 presidential election as an independent candidate.
“I believe I have served my country well and intend to continue to do so. On the 5th of January 2023, I resigned honourably from my position as Cabinet Minister and declared my intention in a national broadcast to contest the Presidential primaries of NPP,” he said.
“Under the circumstances and given the context provided, I wish to use this platform to announce that I am honourably resigning with immediate effect from the New Patriotic Party to contest for the high office of the President of the Republic of Ghana in the 2024 General Elections, as an Independent Presidential Candidate.”
“To actualise this goal, I will establish and lead a new MOVEMENT FOR CHANGE in Ghana. The brand logo for the MOVEMENT is the monarch butterfly, which politically symbolises change and transformation, hope, and positivity. It also communicates strength, endurance, spirituality and trust, which are key traits that I cherish as a political leader. In Akan, it is known as afrafranto. The brand motto of the MOVEMENT is ‘Ghana Will Rise Again’, which symbolises hope for the future of Ghana,” Kyerematen said.
Reacting to the development on Monday, Opoku, who doubles as a member of the Alan campaign team, said the development defeats the principles of party loyalty.
Disappointing
“I have noted with grave dismay the decision of Mr Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, a man whom I have known for the last 17 years of my political life and had the privilege of working closely with, to resign from our party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), and contest as an Independent Candidate in the 2024 general elections.
“The decision is profoundly disappointing. It is a disheartening departure from the principles of party loyalty and unity, which are fundamental to our democratic process. The NPP has always thrived on the strength of its agreement and the collective support of its members,” Davis, popularly known as OPK, wrote on Facebook.
“I express my unwavering commitment to the New Patriotic Party and its vision for Ghana. With its proven track record of good governance and development, despite the challenges, I firmly believe that our party, the NPP, remains the best choice to lead our nation forward in the 2024 elections and beyond,” he added.
I am not going with Alan – Asare
Meanwhile, the deputy Finance Minister Abena Osei Asare, who also doubles as a member of the Alan campaign team, has distanced herself from her boss’s resignation.
In a statement on Monday ( 25 September), Osei Asare said her dedication to the NPP is unwavering.
“I find it necessary to address the recent decision of Hon. Alan Kyerematen to leave the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and run as an independent candidate in 2024,” she said.
“First and foremost, while I enjoy both a personal and professional relationship with Hon. Alan Kyerematen, characterized by mutual respect and a shared commitment to our nation’s progress, I must respectfully distance myself from his recent choice.”
“My dedication to the New Patriotic Party is deep-seated, rooted in our shared values and vision for a prosperous Ghana. The NPP’s strength has always been its unity and our ability to work together for the common good of our country. Let us look forward to the future, keeping the best interests of our party and our beloved Ghana at heart with determination and unity, we can continue to work towards a brighter future for all Ghanaians.
Best regards,” she added.
Reporting by Fred Dzakpata in Accra
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