A Communication Team Member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr. Benedicta Yayra Fosu-Mensah, says the decision of former Trade Minister, Alan John Kyerematen to pull out of the NPP flagbearership race has exposed the cracks in the ruling party.

Speaking on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana on Monday 18th September 2023, she pointed out that Mr. Kyerematen complained several times about the unfair treatment meted out to him by party executives after his long years of sacrifice and service to the growth and development of the NPP but nothing was done about the situation.

“The party has undermined this individual and his falling out has also revealed the level of cracks within the party, I know they are managing it so the public will not know about it,” Dr. Benedicta stated.

She insisted that the fallout of Alan Kyerematen has exposed the high level of cracks going on and also how some individuals have hijacked the party.

“A number of times this issue has come out and the mafias who have taken up the party discard it, regulating some individuals to the background and also finding some individuals who are trying to catch the eye of the president but the president has come out to say that he has no clear candidate but has put together measures in place that shows that his candidate is Bawumia,” she pointed out.

Referencing a not-too-pleasant incident during the Assin North by-election campaign, Dr. Benedicta Fosu-Mensah said the protocols would have informed the high ranks and measures would be put in place for his arrival and all these are plans to undermine Alan Kyeremantang which the party has made so obvious with their actions by shifting attention from one person to another person, however, all these shows skewing of the process in favour of one candidate.

“He had that slogan that ‘Eduru Meso’, when he stepped down for Nana to become president, they had that bargain that if you leave, I will be the next in line and Alan had that entitlement that this is what we discussed probably, at a level of the council of elders and agreed that ‘okay, let me step down so that when Nana leaves, the scene he would be the next’ though the president has denied it,”.

Dr. Benedicta Yayra disclosed that Alan withdrawing from the race is his personal decision and for the fact that he has seen that remaining in the race will contribute to a state of humiliation for him after all his years of work.

Alan pulls out of flagbearership race

Alan John Kwadwo Kyerenaten, one of the frontrunners in the governing New Patriotic Party’s presidential aspirant race withdrew on Tuesday, September 5, 2023.

Mr. Kyerematen cited intimidation of supporters and skewing of the process in favour of one candidate as reasons for his decision.

“In light of the foregoing, I wish to confirm that I am honourably withdrawing from the process that will lead to the Presidential Primaries to be held on the 4th of November 2023. In the next upcoming weeks, I will provide an indication of the role that I will play in politics in Ghana, after consultations with my family and other well-wishers, various stakeholders and interest groups,” Mr. Kyerematen said in his resignation issued on Tuesday, September 5.

“The level of intimidation of varying intensity, directly and indirectly, unleashed on a significant number of Delegates at various Voting Centers across the sixteen regions, is unprecedented in the history of our Party.”

“In addition, the fact that my Polling Agent in the North East region has suffered severe damage to his eyesight, arising from his bold and courageous effort to ensure compliance with the very rules and regulations for the conduct of the elections as approved by the Presidential Elections Committee, will forever remain a dark spot in the history of internal elections within the Party. This incident and various acts of violence and collusion, reported in other Voting Centers, are appalling, unconscionable, and despicable. I am committed to, and value the safety of those who work with me and for me, and I will always fight for their interest,” he added.

By: Edem Etsa Dorvlo | Metrotvonline.com | Ghana