In a stunning turn of events, Alan Kyerematen, a prominent figure in Ghanaian politics, has once again bid adieu to the New Patriotic Party (NPP), sending shockwaves through the political landscape. On Monday, September 25, 2023, Kyerematen officially submitted his resignation letter, marking the end of his affiliation with the NPP, a party he has been a member of for decades. But that was just the beginning of the seismic shift in Ghanaian politics. In a bold move that has left many political observers and party members astounded, Kyerematen promptly called a press conference to announce his intention to run as an independent candidate in the upcoming 2024 elections.
This announcement has sent ripples of uncertainty through the NPP, as it could seriously impact the party's unity and its chances of maintaining its grip on power. The NPP has been in control of the Ghanaian government since January 7, 2017, and they were hoping to break the eight-year cycle of alternating power between the NPP and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
However, Kyerematen's departure from the party has thrown a curveball into their plans. Speculations about Kyerematen's resignation and independent presidential ambitions had been swirling for some time, intensifying over the weekend before his official announcement. A poster announcing his press conference at the Movenpick Hotel on Monday only added fuel to the already blazing speculations. The writing had been on the wall since September 5, 2023, when he withdrew from the NPP's current presidential race.
Kyerematen's decision to step away from the NPP's internal competition came as no surprise to some, as he had faced formidable opponents within his own party. In the Special Super Delegates conference held in August 2023, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia and Kennedy Ohene Agyapong emerged as leading candidates, with Kyerematen finishing third, garnering fewer than 100 votes out of over 900.What makes this move even more striking is the history between Kyerematen and the NPP's presidential race. His name first emerged as a potential presidential candidate in 2005 when he was considered as a replacement for the retiring President John Agyekum Kufuor.
In 2007, he contested against 16 other candidates and finished second to Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who later became Ghana's president. Akufo-Addo has led the NPP since 2007, besting Kyerematen in subsequent presidential primaries. With President Akufo-Addo set to retire on January 6, 2025, the NPP was actively seeking his replacement. Many party members were throwing their support behind Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the current Vice President, who secured a convincing endorsement of over 50 percent of the votes in the special delegates conference held in August 2023.
The larger Electoral College of the NPP was scheduled to select the next leader on November 4, 2023.However, Kyerematen and his supporters were discontented with the process that led to Bawumia's resounding victory. They alleged that the presidency was covertly supporting Bawumia and influencing delegates behind the scenes. To them, it was Kyerematen's time to lead the NPP after patiently waiting for over 16 years, and they believed that Bawumia, who had recently entered the race, should have waited his turn.On the other hand, Bawumia's supporters argued that it was a fair competition, and the delegates should be allowed to decide who should lead the party.
This clash of perspectives within the NPP culminated in Kyerematen's decision to part ways with the party once again. This is not the first time that Alan Kyerematen has walked away from the NPP. In a similar dramatic move in 2008, he resigned from the party after failing to secure the nomination as the party's presidential candidate. That resignation was marked by allegations of intimidation, physical assaults on his supporters, and claims of an uneven playing field that favored a particular candidate.
Known for his calm and composed demeanor, Kyerematen has always been seen as a moderate and unifying figure in Ghanaian politics. His decision to go independent in the 2024 elections adds a new layer of unpredictability to the political landscape, leaving Ghanaians and political observers eagerly awaiting the unfolding drama in the lead-up to the elections. As the countdown to the 2024 elections begins, one thing is clear: Alan Kyerematen's return to the political stage as an independent candidate has injected a dose of excitement and uncertainty into Ghana's political arena, making it a race to watch closely.