Former Trade Minister and NPP flag bearer hopeful, Alan Kyerematen is seen walking quietly in his bid to raise the dream of the NPP flag.
Mr Kyerematen stepped down as Minister of Trade and Industry at the beginning of the year and he has since moved into campaign mode with a series of campaign events.
First, he addressed a press conference in Accra where he announced his ambitions and also sought to distance himself from the NPP government he was part of for six years by launching veiled criticism of the President and the NPP government.
Alan’s first campaign step after his resignation – at a time when the NPP was pushing – seems to have exacerbated the already tense situation by incensing the rank and file of the NPP and the impact on the campaign has been far-reaching.
In the past few days, Alan has held two events; the thanksgiving service in Accra and the visit to Kumasi were dubbed ‘homecoming’.
However, developments in these two major events will cause Alan and his team to worry.
Conspicuously missing in both events were the stalwarts and heavyweights of the key blocks of the NPP party – Parliament, Ministers, former appointees, elders, regional and constituency executives.
For an event like this by someone who wants to lead the NPP, one would have expected some significant support by key individuals from the caucus to send a strong signal to key grassroots members of the party, but that support was not there. both Accra and Kumasi.
Only a few faces, who should not be considered party heavyweights, except the former Attorney General and Ambassador to Canada, Lawyer Ayikoi Otoo attended the thanksgiving service in Accra.
From the Parliamentary Caucus, only two MPs attended; Ngleshi Amanfrom MP, Sylvester Tetteh and Anyaa-Sowutuom MP Adomako Kusi, who were joined by one and only one MP from the Eastern Region, Mpraeso MP David Opoku Ansah.
By any stretch of the imagination, the face cannot be described as the heavyweight of the party from the Parliamentary Caucus, numbering 137.
NO SHOW IN KUMASI
The troubling situation didn’t get any better for Alan the next day in Kumasi for his planned homecoming.
Like the national thanksgiving service in Accra, NPP teachers, especially stakeholders in the Ashanti Region were not visible.
The heavy weight of the party was seen missing during the visit to the Asantehene at the Manhyia Palace with key MPs, party executives, former executives and appointees, among others absent.
Out of the 43 members of parliament from the Ashanti Region, only 2 were present; MP for Subin and Asokwa.
As for former NPP representatives, only 5 former MPs, 2 DCEs and 3 former constituency executives were present.
Surprisingly, none of the 47 sitting constituency Chairmen and nearly 800 constituency executives have been notified.
Analysts have observed that the caliber of light personnel leading Alan Kyerematen’s campaign shows his declining popularity in the NPP.
In the front line of the campaign Alan was defeated by Madina and Adenta MP, Boniface Abubakar Saddique and Yaw Buaben Asamoah, former Secretary General, Nana Ohene Ntow and Hopeson Adorye who failed to make a significant impact as the NPP Parliamentary candidate for Kpone Katamanso in the 2020 election.
Alan’s failure to attract influential and charismatic members of the NPP to lead his campaign coupled with the many defections of his former allies to Vice President Bawumia’s camp will surely be a major problem for Alan and his team.
Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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