On September 25, former presidential candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Alan Kyerematen announced his resignation from the ruling party during a press conference, where he revealed that he would be contesting the 2024 presidential elections as an independent candidate.
Following this, the New Patriotic Party, during a press conference moderated by its General Secretary, Justin Frimpong Kodua, disclosed that Mr Kyerematen failed to inform the party of his intentions ahead of this significant move.
He said the party was disappointed and distressed by his failure to engage the party. According to Mr Frimpong Kodua, this gives the assertion that his resignation was premeditated and irrevocable.
In response to the party’s statement, Mr Kyerematen said he found no need to inform the party of his decision as he is an independent individual capable of making rational decisions.
“I went to a contest, and after my review of the contest, I decided to exit the party. I don’t have to inform anyone.
“I am an established man, and I don’t take instructions from people. I might look younger, but I’m an elderly man,” he said on Accra-based UTV.
Mr Kyerematen argues that his services are no longer needed by the ruling party.
“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,” he said in his speech.
Here @AlanKyerematen says there was a plan to make him NPP enemy no.1 when at the launch of the party's 2008 campaign, the MC said all party leaders were there except Alan Kyerematen who had traveled He says he was in his office and was shocked after he turned TV on 2/6 pic.twitter.com/xaKcRewBzn
Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen had asserted that the party had been “seized by a select faction of Party leaders, elders, and clandestine power brokers among government appointees.”
He made these statements during his announcement of departure from the NPP, declaring his intention to run as an independent candidate in the 2024 presidential election.
However, during a press conference held on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, the General Secretary of the NPP, Justin Kodua Frimpong, refuted these claims, emphasizing that they were untrue.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the leadership of the Party equally disagrees with assertions made by Kyerematen on page eight (8) of his resignation address that ‘the Party has been hijacked by a selected group of Party leaders and elders, and government appointees behind the curtain power brokers’.”
“Guided by facts and data, the leadership of the Party disagrees entirely with this assertion. Historically, the selection of flagbearers for political parties in Ghana had been the preserve of a privileged few until the New Patriotic Party took the bold decision to decentralize the process by expanding its electoral college to enfranchise some One Hundred and Six Thousand, Five-Hundred and Ninety (106,590) delegates in 2010.”
“Currently, about Two Hundred Thousand (200,000) delegates would be voting to select the Party’s next flagbearer relative to the estimated One Thousand Nine Hundred and Ninety-Eight delegates (1,998) who did same in 1992. Clearly, the quantum leap to Two Hundred Thousand (200,000) delegates in 2023 underscores the decentralization of power to all Party stakeholders and defeats the assertion that the Party has been hijacked by a privileged few”.
He further added that “In reference to Kyerematen’s concerns, which include allegations of intimidation against his supporters, it is noteworthy that certain government appointees, including cabinet ministers, who openly declared their support for him are still at post and have never been intimidated,” he stated.
National Chairman of theNew Patriotic Party (NPP), Stephen Ntim Ayensu , has thrown subtle jabs at the former Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan Kyeremanten, following his resignation from the NPP and declaration of intention to run as an independent candidate in the 2024 general elections.
During a press conference held at the party’s headquarters on September 26, 2023, in Accra, the chairman emphasised that while members of a party or a group have the opportunity to reap the rewards and advantages that come with their membership, it’s crucial to recognise that being a member of a party doesn’t guarantee the fulfilment of all your desires and expectations.
In describing his journey to chairmanship, Mr Ntim said it took him over two decades to land the position, a dream he fulfilled with patience.
He said, “As a member of a party, you have to understand that you will not always have your way or get what you want.
“As I stand here, it took me 21 years to finally win and become the national chairman of the party.
“I didn’t stop.”
Sounding a caution to all, the chairman mentioned that, as much as your membership in the NPP serves as a cover, it is worthy to note that, once you decide to withdraw from the party, “you are alone”.
“First of all, you would have to understand that being a member of a group or party serves as a cover; you stand to benefit from everything the group has or engages in.”
“But know that once you decide to exit, you are on your own—you are alone. Let us all get this one clear: the moment you decide to step out , you are alone,” he stated.
He therefore urged all members of the party to look out for one another, as well as the party’s interests, in order to benefit the budding leaders and the party’s success.
“I implore all of you to safeguard one another and the party as a whole.
This way, when we eventually step down from our leadership roles, our successors will have the opportunity to become successful leaders, and the NPP will continue to thrive,” the chairman said.
Former presidential candidate aspirant of the New Patriotic Party, Mr. Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen, launched a verbal attack on certain elders and leaders within the party, accusing them of effectively taking control of the party when he announced his resignation last Monday.
According to him, the party has been seized by a specific group of party leaders and elders, government appointees, covert power influencers, and some unscrupulous party members.
The former Trade and Industry Minister made these allegations as he announced his immediate resignation from the ruling party during a press conference held on Monday, September 25, 2023, in Accra.
Mr. Kyerematen underscored his role as a Founding Member of the New Patriotic Party, having joined the party at its inception. He expressed his initial belief in the party’s fundamental principles and the enduring customs of its predecessors, which were rooted in principles of fairness, equity, probity, accountability, and transparency.
“I have devoted the best part of my professional career to serving the party, and I still believe in the vision of the founding fathers of the party” he stressed.
However, he stated that the NPP as it exists now has very little resemblance to the party that he joined in 1992 and helped to nurture.
“It was my fervent wish to use the vehicle of the party to bring my God given talents, experience, and knowledge acquired both locally and internationally over a period of 46 years, to serve our dear nation, Ghana at the highest level of executive authority” a disgruntled Alan Kyerematen bemoaned.
He conveyed that his services and contributions to the party have not been duly acknowledged, and he believes that his continued presence in the party would only exacerbate existing tensions and divisions. He emphasized that the current situation mirrors the circumstances that prompted his earlier decision to resign from the party in 2008.
The former State Minister took this opportunity to declare his intention to run as an Independent Presidential candidate in the upcoming 2024 general elections.
Alan Kyerematen also unveiled the creation of a new movement in Ghana called the “Movement For Change,” which he personally intends to lead into the elections next year.
He explained that the movement’s logo is the Monarch Butterfly, which holds political symbolism representing change, transformation, hope, and positivity. He emphasized that it also conveys important qualities such as strength, endurance, spirituality, and trust, all of which he values as a Political Leader. In the Akan language, it is known as Afrafranto. The movement’s motto is “Ghana Will Rise Again,” symbolizing hope for Ghana’s future.
Furthermore, Alan Kyerematen highlighted that this new movement will be driven and energized by the youth of Ghana. Among the over 17 million registered voters in the 2020 general election, the youth aged 18-35 constituted over 9.4 million voters, representing 55% of the total voters.
He stressed that the youth are undeniably the future of the country, yet they are also the most vulnerable segment of society.
In a surprising turn of events, staunch Alan Kyeremanten supporter and former Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Catherine Afeku, has emphasised her unwavering support for the New Patriotic Party.
The former minister, known for her readiness to defend and advocate for the former minister, has declared that she remains with the New Patriotic Party.
As a huge supporter of Alan, she believes that “the NPP is supreme”.
Hence “if our elder brother (Alan) has decided to run as an independent candidate, it doesn’t mean that those of us in the NPP should go with him”, she said in Twi.
In a press conference held at the party’s headquarters in Accra, the NPP responded to the former Minister of Trade and Industry’s resignation from the party and his decision to run as an independent candidate.
This comes after the announcement of the same at a press conference on September 25, 2023, at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra.
Catherine Afeku emphasised during a media interaction that all supporters of Alan who were present at the party’s office during that time continue to be members of the party and have not departed from it, unlike Alan Kyeremanten.
Additionally, they remain committed to the “mighty elephant government”.
“Just as you heard the National Youth Organiser mention earlier , most of us (Alan supporters) are here and we are here to fully support the NPP, the mighty elephant.”
“But we would like to use this platform to send out a message to all Ghanaians that the NPP is supreme and the elephant government is what we know, love and serve.”
“It was through the NPP that we got to know the leaders; hence, as you can see, our presence here is evidence of the fact that we are still with the party; we haven’t left nor will we ever leave,” she added.
She further went on to call on all who desired to join the NPP to come and “together we can make the party great and break the 8 December 2024 polls.”
Leader of the Movement for Change, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, has revealed that he actively advocated for Bernard Antwi Boasiako, widely known as Chairman Wontumi, to assume the role of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) regional chairman.
Kyeremanten explained that chairman Wontumi had approached him with a keen interest in Ghanaian politics in 2015 after he drew inspiration from him.
Acknowledging Wontumi’s commitment and determination, Kyeremanten wasted no time in helping Wontumi secure significant positions within the party.
“I personally introduced him to the Bosomtwe constituency because he claimed to be from there. I was the one who lobbied for his position as chairman. During that period, I held a prominent position in the party, so he became chairman based on my recommendation,” Alan expressed.
Meanwhile, Chairman Wontumi has ordered the removal of all campaign materials of Alan Kyerematen in the area.
Chairman Wontumi, as he is popularly called said he will ensure the region is rid of all posters, billboards, and other advertisements of the former Trade Minister.
This is as a result off Alan Kyerematen’s resignation from the NPP and decision to contest as an independent presidential candidate in the upcoming 2024 elections.
The leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has denied allegations that the party has been taken over by a specific group of individuals.
During a press conference held on Monday, September 25, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen resigned from the party and announced his intention to run as an independent candidate.
In his resignation statement, Alan asserted that a particular faction of party leaders, elders, and behind-the-scenes power brokers had effectively seized control of the party.
In response to Alan’s claims, the General Secretary of the NPP, Justin Koduah, addressed the matter during a press conference on Tuesday, September 26, and refuted these allegations.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the leadership of the Party equally disagrees with assertions made by Mr. Kyerematen on page eight (8) of his resignation address that ‘the Party has been hijacked by a selected group of Party leaders and elders, and government appointees behind the curtain power brokers’.”
“Guided by facts and data, the leadership of the Party disagrees entirely with this assertion. Historically, the selection of flagbearers for political parties in Ghana had been the preserve of a privileged few until the New Patriotic Party took the bold decision to decentralize the process by expanding its electoral college to enfranchise some One Hundred and Six Thousand, Five-Hundred and Ninety (106,590) delegates in 2010.”
He added, “Currently, about Two Hundred Thousand (200,000) delegates would be voting to select the Party’s next flagbearer relative to the estimated One Thousand Nine Hundred and Ninety-Eight delegates (1,998) who did same in 1992. Clearly, the quantum leap to Two Hundred Thousand (200,000) delegates in 2023 underscores the decentralization of power to all Party stakeholders and defeats the assertion that the Party has been hijacked by a privileged few”.
Additionally, he dismissed Mr. Kyerematen’s allegations of intimidation against his supporters, highlighting that government appointees, including cabinet ministers who openly declared their support for him, are still in their respective positions.
“In reference to Mr Kyerematen’s concerns, which include allegations of intimidation against his supporters, it is noteworthy that certain government appointees, including cabinet ministers, who openly declared their support for him are still at post and have never been intimidated,” he stated.
Founder and leader of Movement for Change, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, has advised the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako popularly known as Chairman Wontumi to be temperate in his comments over his recent resignation from the ruling party.
In response to the former Trade Minister’s resignation from the NPP, Chairman Wontumi during an interview conducted on Wontumi TV portrayed Mr Kyerematen as ungrateful, especially in light of the considerable support and opportunities that the NPP had extended to him.
He suggested that Alan’s departure from the NPP could potentially result in adverse consequences for him.
“…President Kufour made you an ambassador and you were so happy. You (Alan), your girlfriends, your wife and your children enjoyed it so much. You sent them to good schools. President Kufuor also made you trade minister and because of this, you became so rich that you were nick-named Alan Cash.
“…You have enjoyed in the past because of the NPP. As for me, I think this resignation is a curse to him because the NPP has helped him. Look at how the party has helped you. If everyone in the NPP got what you have gotten from the party, none of them would complain of being mistreated,” he said in the Twi dialect.
But his comments have not sat well with Mr Kyerematen, who has cautioned Chairman Wontumi to be careful of the words he utters.
According to Mr Kyerematen, Chairman Wontumi lacks the ability to criticise him for his decision as he has on several occasions assisted him. He further described Chairman Wontumi as an “ingrate” for siding with other presidential aspirants during the party’s Super Delegates Conference.
“Who is Chairman Wontumi? I brought him into the party in 2005 with good intentions. He was a small-time businessman at that time. I have tolerated a lot of disrespect.
“He [Wontumi] should be careful with the things he’s doing. You don’t have to be an ingrate if someone helps you. I led the delegation to ensure Wontumi became Regional Chairman, ask him. Now that he is gotten that top position, he thinks he is above everyone else. When I heard him campaigning against me, it was surprising,” he said.
According to Mr Kyerematen, he felt betrayed when Chairman Wontumi openly campaigned against him.
“I’ve done nothing to you. If you support someone else, it’s nothing but to do an open campaign against me, what is your problem? If you’re a Regional Chairman should you do that? You are supposed to be fair but you have become a cheerleader,” he said sadly.
A memorandum from the leadership of Ashanti Region’s New Patriotic Party (NPP) has ordered all regional chairpersons in the 47 constituencies to quickly remove all posters, banners, and other campaign materials associated with the former Trade and Industry Minister, Alan Kyerematen, from their party offices.
In the memo dated September 25, 2023, with the subject “Removal of all Alan Kverematen-branded items from our party offices” and signed by the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP, Mr. Bernard Antwi Boasiako, chairpersons region-wide to remove all posters, banners, and other campaign materials associated with the former Trade and Industry Minister, Alan Kyerematen, from their party offices due to his resignation.
Reacting to this, Mr. Kyerematen said he was not bothered.
“It’s no problem. The order came from Wontumi. Who brought Wontumi to the party? I brought him into the party. He has to be thanking Alan Kyerematen”.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has noted that there was nothing it could have done to prevent former presidential candidate, John Alan Kyerematen from resigning from the party.
The party’s General Secretary, Justin Frimpong Kodua, during a press conference held on Tuesday, September 26, explained that Mr Kyerematen was resolved to leave the party owing to his decision to announce such an important step via a press conference.
According to Mr Frimpong Kodua, the former Trade Minister did not accord the party due respect by giving prior notice of his resignation before holding a press briefing in Accra on Monday.
He said: “The disappointing part is the mode in which he decided to resign from the party, which was through a press conference without prior notice to the party.
The party wants to believe that by his decision to hold a press conference to resign without first informing the leadership of the party suggests that he made a premeditated and irrevocable decision to resign from the party.”
Mr Kyerematen announced his resignation on September 25, when he addressed the country during a press conference at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra today, September 25, 2023.
He noted that he no longer recognizes the NPP, which has been unfair to himself and his supporters, as its current aims and agenda no longer reflect what the founding fathers had hoped to achieve.
Meanwhile, the New Patriotic Party says it has accepted Mr Kyerematen’s resignation from the party.
General Secretary for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Frimpong Kodua, has revealed that former presidential aspirant, John Alan Kyerematen, failed to inform the party of his resignation before going public.
He made this known when the party addressed Mr Kyerematen’s resignation during a press conference held at the party’s headquarters today.
He said: “The disappointing part is the mode in which he decided to resign from the party, which was through a press conference without prior notice to the party.”
Mr Kyerematen announced his resignation on September 25, when he addressed the country during a press conference at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra today, September 25, 2023.
He noted that he no longer recognizes the NPP, which has been unfair to himself and his supporters, as its current aims and agenda no longer reflect what the founding fathers had hoped to achieve.
Following this, Mr Frimpong Kodua, in a press statement, deemed Mr Kyerematen’s resignation “unfortunate”.
“The leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has taken notice of the unfortunate decision of Mr. Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, a long-standing member of the Party to forfeit his membership and contest as an independent presidential candidate in the 2024 general elections,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, the NPP holds the assertion that Mr Kyerematen was keen on exiting the party, hence his decision to make such an announcement via a press conference.
“The party wants to believe that by his decision to hold a press conference to resign without first informing the leadership of the party suggests that he made a premeditated and irrevocable decision to resign from the party,” Mr Kodua noted.
A Ghanaian lecturer based in the United States, Prof. Kwabena Dei Ofori-Atta, has expressed his views on Alan Kyerematen, a former New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential hopeful, in an interview on UTV on Monday, September 25, 2023.
According to Prof. Ofori-Atta, Alan Kyerematen is fully aware that his chances of winning the 2024 elections as an independent candidate are slim.
He suggested that Alan’s decision to run as an independent candidate is primarily aimed at preventing the NPP from securing victory in the 2024 elections.
Prof. Ofori-Atta further noted that even Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, when he departed from the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC), established his own party, the Convention People’s Party (CPP), to rally people behind him. In his opinion, if Alan genuinely aspired to become president, he should have followed a similar path.
“… Nkrumah got angry and left his party, but he did not run for the presidency as an independent candidate. He formed his party, the CPP, and got a lot of followers. When Paa Willie also broke away from Busia’s party, he did not go independent, he formed his own party, the UNC (United National Convention).
“What Alan is doing is just hurt the NPP, he does not want the party to win the next elections… His thinking is that if the NPP is going to retain power without him as the party’s candidate then the party should collapse,” he said in Twi.
He further remarked that Alan’s actions indicate ingratitude, considering the substantial support and opportunities the NPP has provided him.
About Alan’s resignation from the NPP and running as an independent candidate in the 2024 election:
During a press conference in Accra on Monday, September 25, 2023, Alan Kyerematen declared his departure from the NPP and his intention to run as an independent candidate in the 2024 presidential elections.
He expressed his desire to become Ghana’s president under the NPP banner, but lamented that the party had been taken over by what he referred to as ‘unscrupulous party officials.’
“The NPP as it exists now has very little resemblance to the Party that I joined in 1992 and helped to nurture. The Party has been hijacked by a selected group of Party leaders and elders, government appointees, ‘behind the curtain power brokers’ and some unscrupulous party apparatchiks.
“… I wish to use this platform to announce that I am honourably resigning 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,” he said.
Alan also stated that his presidential campaign would be headed by a youth-led movement.
“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 symbolizes 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 symbolizes hope for the future of Ghana.
“The new Movement will be led and powered by the youth of Ghana. Out of the over 17 million registered voters in the 2020 general election, the youth aged 18-35, years constituted over 9.4 million voters representing 55% of the total voters,” he said.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has addressed the public on the resignation of former presidential aspirant, John Alan Kyerematen today at the party headquarters.
Mr Kyerematen announced his resignation when he addressed the country during a press conference at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra today, September 25, 2023.
He noted that he no longer recognizes the NPP, which has been unfair to himself and his supporters, as its current aims and agenda no longer reflect what the founding fathers had hoped to achieve.
In a press statement issued by General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong, the party deemed Mr Kyerematen’s resignation “unfortunate”.
“The leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has taken notice of the unfortunate decision of Mr. Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, a long-standing member of the Party to forfeit his membership and contest as an independent presidential candidate in the 2024 general elections,” the statement read.
Just recently, Ghana’s youth stirred the nation with a three-day protest under the banner of #OccupyJulorbiHouse, organized by the Democracy Hub team. The protest aimed to address perceived injustices and unfair treatment by the government towards the Ghanaian people.
During the protests, Ghanaian youth, both on the streets and through social media, voiced their concerns about the sharp increases in the prices of essential goods and services under the leadership of President Akufo-Addo and the New Patriotic Party.
However, Member of Parliament (MP) for the Bekwai Constituency, Joseph Osei-Owusu, has expressed his frustration with what he perceives as ingratitude among Ghanaians, despite the dedicated efforts of leaders to meet their needs. According to the politician, Ghanaians often neglect their responsibilities to maintain and protect the initiatives undertaken by their leaders.
“The people we work for don’t appreciate anything we do. The people we represent are often as irresponsible as anybody.
“You struggle, borrow to build a road designed to last thirty years, everything that we must not do on the road, we will do it and the lifespan will be sharply reduced and we turn around to blame all the contractors, all the engineers and the politicians,” Joe Wise said.
The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament went on to say that it is very difficult to lead Ghanaians because of their actions.
“It is frustrating to lead in Ghana because every rule will be disrespected. You are bad if you insist that the rule be respected. Sometimes, I just give up. If you insist, they will move a little, and they return.
“If you want to have the law respected permanently, you have to have probably thousands of policemen all the time. The economy cannot support that,” Joe Wise said.
“I find it frustrating. It’s not that it is not possible to get people not to do it but the amount of force and resources that we require to get the people to respect the rules all the time may be beyond our means,” he added on this week’s episode of The Lowdown on GhanaWeb TV with Daniel Oduro.
Member of Parliament representing the Mpraeso Constituency, Davis Ansah Opoku (OPK), has conveyed his disappointment regarding Alan Kyerematen’s departure from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and his intention to run as an independent candidate in the 2024 elections.
In a statement shared on Facebook, he described the move as “profoundly disappointing” and a “departure from the principles of party loyalty and unity” that are fundamental to the democratic process.
“The NPP has always thrived on the strength of its agreement and the collective support of its members. I express my unwavering commitment to the New Patriotic Party and its vision for Ghana.”
“The NPP is a party of great ideals, and we must come together, reaffirm our loyalty to the party, and work tirelessly towards securing victory in the 2024 elections. The Party remains Supreme; our strength lies in our unity. Let us put aside our differences and focus on our shared goal of delivering progress, prosperity, and good governance to the people of Ghana,” he added.
Mr Kyerematen announced his decision to resign from the ruling party when he addressed the country during a press conference at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra today, September 25, 2023.
He noted that he no longer recognises the NPP, which has been unfair to himself and his supporters, as its current aims and agenda no longer reflect what the founding fathers had hoped to achieve.
According to the former Trade Minister, he will contest for the office of president as an independent candidate in 2024 with his new party, Movement for Change.
Mr Kyerematen was among the contenders for the NPP flagbearer position, but on September 5, he declared his withdrawal from the race, citing reasons such as electoral irregularities, unfair treatment, and bias during the super delegates’ conference held on August 26, 2023.
The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi has strongly criticized former NPP presidential hopeful Alan Kyerematen for his choice to exit the party and run as an independent candidate in the 2024 elections.
During an interview on Wontumi TV on Monday, September 25, 2023, Chairman Wontumi voiced his disapproval, characterizing Alan as ungrateful, considering the significant support and opportunities the NPP has provided him.
He went on to suggest that Alan’s decision to depart from the NPP was tantamount to inviting misfortune upon himself.
“…President Kufour made you an ambassador and you were so happy. You (Alan), your girlfriends, your wife and your children enjoyed it so much. You sent them to good schools. President Kufuor also made you trade minister and because of this, you became so rich that you were nick-named Alan Cash.
“…You have enjoyed in the past because of the NPP. As for me, I think this resignation is a curse to him because the NPP has helped him. Look at how the party has helped you. If everyone in the NPP got what you have gotten from the party, none of them would complain of being mistreated,” he said in the Twi dialect.
Mr Kyerematen on September 25, 2023, announced his resignation from the party when he addressed the country during a press conference at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra.
He noted that he no longer recognises the NPP, which has been unfair to himself and his supporters, as its current aims and agenda no longer reflect what the founding fathers had hoped to achieve.
According to the former Trade Minister, he will contest for the office of president as an independent candidate in 2024 with his new party, Movement for Change.
Mr Kyerematen was among the contenders for the NPP flagbearer position, but on September 5, he declared his withdrawal from the race, citing reasons such as electoral irregularities, unfair treatment, and bias during the super delegates’ conference held on August 26, 2023.
Mr Kyerematen first resigned from the party in 2008 following attacks on his supporters after the NPP held its 2007 presidential primaries.
Mr Kyerematen has been an active member of the NPP following its establishment in 1992.
He was part of a group of young dynamic Business Executives and Professionals came together to establish the Young Executives Forum (YEF) that became the financial backbone of the Party and provided significant financial resources to support the Party in all its endeavours, including the seed fund for the purchase of the Party’s first national headquarters building.
Meanwhile, former Ashanti Regional Minister, Samson Kwaku Boafo has endorsed Mr Kyerematen in his bid for the highest office of the land.
Deputy Finance Minister, Abena Osei-Asare, says she is not aligned with the choice made by former New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential aspirant Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen to pursue an independent candidacy.
While Abena Osei-Asare acknowledged her personal and professional association with Mr. Kyerematen and her support for him, she emphasized that her unwavering commitment to the New Patriotic Party remains profound and firmly anchored in their common values.
In a press statement, the Deputy Finance Minister 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.”
Mr Kyerematen announced his decision to resign from the NPP when he addressed the country during a press conference at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra on September 25, 2023.
He noted that he no longer recognises the NPP, which has been unfair to himself and his supporters, as its current aims and agenda no longer reflect what the founding fathers had hoped to achieve.
According to the former Trade Minister, he will contest for the office of president as an independent candidate in 2024 with his new party, Movement for Change.
Mr Kyerematen was among the contenders for the NPP flagbearer position, but on September 5, he declared his withdrawal from the race, citing reasons such as electoral irregularities, unfair treatment, and bias during the super delegates’ conference held on August 26, 2023.
Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament for the Mpraeso, Davies Ansah Opoku, has also severed ties with Mr Kyerematen.
Read below Abena Osei-Asare’s post
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 25, 2023
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. 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,
Alan Kyerematen, a former presidential aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has bemoaned how his efforts towards the growth of the NPP were taken for granted and never duly recognised.
He registered his displeasure with how the NPP has allegedly treated him when he announced his resignation from the NPP today, September 25, 2023.
According to Mr Kyerematen, this unwarranted treatment stems from the hijacking of the party by some leaders and government appointees, who have ensured that the party veers off the aims and objectives of its founding fathers.
“I have devoted the best part of my professional career to serving the Party, and I still believe in the vision of the founding fathers of the Party. However, the NPP as it exists now has very little resemblance to the Party that I joined in 1992 and helped to nurture. The Party has been hijacked by a selected group of Party leaders and elders, government appointees, “behind the curtain power brokers” and some unscrupulous Party apparatchiks.”
He therefore said: “It is abundantly clear to me, that my services and contributions to the Party are not appreciated, and that my continuous stay in the Party will create further tension and division, which is an exact replay of circumstances that led to my decision to resign from the Party in 2008.”
According to Mr Kyerematen, it was his fervent wish to use the vehicle of the Party to bring his God given talents, experience, and knowledge acquired both locally and internationally over a period of 46 years, to serve the country at the highest level of executive authority.
He further accused the party of attacking his supporters since 2008 when he resigned from the party following challenges with its 2007 presidential primaries.
Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) member, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, has recounted that during his time in the party, his supporters faced attacks and were treated as outcasts following the party’s 2007 presidential primaries.
In 2007, Mr. Kyerematen ran for the party’s flagbearer position alongside 16 other candidates, including the current President, Nana Akufo-Addo. Nana Akufo-Addo emerged as the winner, with Mr. Kyerematen as the runner-up. According to the party’s electoral process, the two were slated for a second-round ballot.
However, Mr. Kyerematen declined to contest and instead allowed Nana Akufo-Addo to be selected as the NPP’s flagbearer for the 2008 general elections.
According to the former Trade Minister, he did this to “avoid a further deterioration of peace in an already divided Party.”
Nonetheless, the gesture he made was met with opposition as “there were very serious post-primary attacks on my supporters all over the country, and an open show of hostility.”
“Some of my supporters were victims of brutalities and continue to bear the scars of that treatment,” he added.
Mr Kyerematen, while announcing his recent resignation from the party at a press conference in Accra today, noted that he drew the attention of the leadership of the party, however, “my representations went unheeded.”
As a result of this, he decided to resign from the NPP “in protest against the blatant alienation of my supporters, orchestrated by elements aligned to the leadership of the Party.”
Former Trade Minister, Alan Kyerematen, no longer sides with the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
He made this known during a press conference at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra on September 25, 2023.
Mr. Kyerematen stated that he no longer identifies with the NPP, as its objectives and agenda no longer align with the vision of the party’s founding fathers.
Below is his full statement.
SPEECH BY HON. ALAN JOHN KWADWO KYEREMATEN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE FOR THE DECEMBER 2024 GENERAL ELECTIONS AT MOVENPICK AMBASSADOR HOTEL, ACCRA ON MONDAY, 25TH SEPT. 2023 ● FELLOW COUNTRYMEN & WOMEN; ● FRIENDS FROM THE MEDIA; ● DISTINGUISHED INVITED GUESTS; ● LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
Let me start first by expressing my profound gratitude to you all for accepting my invitation to attend this Press Conference. I give thanks to the Almighty God for His manifold blessings on my life and for His grace and mercy.
I wish also to use this platform to express my heartfelt appreciation to each and every one of you, particularly the rank and file of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), who have believed in my vision, who have stood by me through thick and thin, and who have shown unwavering faith in the promise of a bright future for Ghana. Your belief in the possibilities of our nation and your dedication to the ideals of progress, unity and prosperity have been nothing short of inspiring.
It is important for me at the onset, to provide a historical context for what has occasioned this Press Conference today.
In 1992, when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was established, a group of young dynamic Business Executives and Professionals came together to establish the Young Executives Forum (YEF) under my Chairmanship. The YEF since 1992, became the financial backbone of the Party and provided significant financial resources to support the Party in all its endeavours, including the seed fund for the purchase of the Party’s first national headquarters building.
As Chairman of the YEF, I had the privilege of serving as a member of the National Executive Committee and the National Council of the Party. In addition to this, I served as a leading member of various Committees of the Party.
Social media influencer, KalyJay and Ghanaian actress Efia Odo have intercepted an agenda by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that seeks to advertise the party in a good light.
#WeAreNPP speaks of the achievements chalked by the NPP and why the party should be retained in 2024 to continue its work.
But KalyJay and Efia Odo are now leading netizens to use the same hashtag to shame the government for its shortfalls.
The former has called on aggrieved Ghanaians to “hijack the hashtag”.
And just as requested, tweeps in a number of tweets have brought to light issues of flooding, poor healthcare system, bad roads that have led to road carnage, and unfavorable conditions in schools within their jurisdiction.
The president can allocate $58million dollars for a cathedral but look at how children are learning. Education is the key to success right ? Only you know the depth of sins you have committed !! #WeAreNPPpic.twitter.com/fjHoRsbqMY
Wife of Alan Kyeremanten, Patricia Christabel Kyerematen, is certain that her husband, a former New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential aspirant and the freshest independent candidate in town, is the ‘man Ghana needs’.
She eulogised her husband as “a good man; he’s an honest man; he’s a man with vision”.
During a media engagement at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel on September 25, 2023, following a press conference at which the former NPP presidential aspirant declared his redrawal from the NPP and decision to run as an independent candidate in the December 25 polls next year, she believes that her husband will make a great leader and will be a great asset to Ghana.
She said, “I’m giving him every support, every support with the strength that God has given me”.
She is looking forward to his victory in the upcoming election and is committed to helping him every step of the way.
“Because you will agree with me that now that the signal is clear, it is more than possible that this will happen,
“Alan, he’s what Ghana needs
“There’s nothing impossible if God permits it”.
Former presidential aspirant for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), John Alan Kyeremanten, has announced his resignation from the ruling party.
Mr Kyerematen announced his decision when he addressed the country during a press conference at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra on September 25, 2023.
He noted that he no longer recognises the NPP, which has been unfair to himself and his supporters, as its current aims and agenda no longer reflect what the founding fathers had hoped to achieve.
According to the former Trade Minister, he will contest for the office of president as an independent candidate in 2024 with his new party, Movement for Change.
Mr Kyerematen was among the contenders for the NPP flagbearer position, but on September 5, he declared his withdrawal from the race, citing reasons such as electoral irregularities, unfair treatment, and bias during the superdelegates’ conference held on August 26, 2023.
Mr Kyerematen first resigned from the party in 2008 following attacks on his supporters after the NPP held its 2007 presidential primaries.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has noted that it will address the resignation of former presidential aspirant, John Alan Kyerematen on Tuesday.
In a press statement issued by General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong, the party deemed Mr Kyerematen’s resignation “unfortunate”.
“The leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has taken notice of the unfortunate decision of Mr. Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, a long-standing member of the Party to forfeit his membership and contest as an independent presidential candidate in the 2024 general elections,” the statement read.
Mr Kyerematen announced his resignation when he addressed the country during a press conference at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra today, September 25, 2023.
He noted that he no longer recognizes the NPP, which has been unfair to himself and his supporters, as its current aims and agenda no longer reflect what the founding fathers had hoped to achieve.
According to the former Trade Minister, he will contest for the office of president as an independent candidate in 2024 with his new party, Movement for Change.
Mr Kyerematen was among the contenders for the NPP flagbearer position, but on September 5, he declared his withdrawal from the race, citing reasons such as electoral irregularities, unfair treatment, and bias during the super delegates’ conference held on August 26, 2023.
The leadership of the party has meanwhile urged the rank and file of our great Party to remain calm and await an official address by the Party to Mr. Kyerematen’s resignation at 14:00 p.m. tomorrow at the Party headquarters.
Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential aspirant, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, has made known details about his political future today at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra.
Ahead of this much-anticipated address, there had been a widespread speculation that the former Trade Minister might sever ties with the NPP and opt to pursue his presidential ambitions as an independent candidate in the upcoming 2024 general elections.
Mr Kyerematen was among the contenders for the NPP flagbearer position, but on September 5, he declared his withdrawal from the race, citing reasons such as electoral irregularities, unfair treatment, and bias during the super delegates’ conference held on August 26.
Producers of UTV’s United Showbiz Show have purportedly received a letter from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) expressing dissatisfaction with the program’s perceived targeting of President Nana Addo and Vice President Dr. Bawumia.
Reports suggest that the political party is unhappy with how the entertainment show consistently uses its platform to generate disrespect for the President and Vice President. The alleged letter requests the show’s producers to participate in a fair hearing with the NPP to ensure that panelists are not intentionally biased in their discussions, potentially harming the government’s reputation.
During the show on Saturday, September 23, 2023, artiste manager Bullgod disclosed the details of the purported letter that was reportedly delivered to UTV’s leadership.
“I have been directed by the leadership of the New Patriotic Party to draw your attention to some recent observations we have made regarding the primetime program United Showbiz. Currently, United Showbiz appears to be operating as a platform that serves the interests of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
“It is evident to any discerning viewer who has followed the program in recent weeks that its content has significantly deviated from its original purpose and relevance after every remark. The program now frequently features intemperate language, unconstructive rants, and outright insults at the presidency by panelists,” portions of the statement read according to Bullgod.
“This has become a recurring pattern that raises the question of whether the show has inadvertently transitioned into a political talk show. If such a transformation is indeed the case, it is imperative to address the imbalance in representation granting the New Patriotic Party (NPP) a fair and equitable platform to ensure objectivity, fairness, and equity.
“In upholding your station’s duty of care towards the public, it is incumbent upon the management to facilitate equal representation rather than turning a blind eye to this issue.
“It pertains to maintaining respect for the presidency and the sense of responsibility towards one another.
“The United Showbiz program has in recent times witnessed an unwarranted surge in disparaging comments targeted at the President, which has raised concerns among a section of the populace. The program subjected the vice president, Dr. Bawumia, to ridicule and criticism in the last few episodes,” Bullgod read as stated in the letter during the United Showbiz show.
Former Commissioner of Police (COP), George Alex Mensah, has urged the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to do all within its power to retain power come 2024 elections.
In an interview with Accra-based Asaase Radio on Wednesday, September 20, the retired police officer stated that it would be unacceptable for the party to lose power as that would distort the growth of the economy.
When quizzed if it is possible for the NPP to break the 8, he said “Everything is possible. We will break the 8. We must break the 8 to push Ghana forward”.
When asked if he was happy about how the current administration has run the country, he said, “Yes, I am. I am very happy”.
“I am happy because I know those in charge now want the best for this country,” he added.
He therefore urged the people of Ghana to consider retaining the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the upcoming 2024 general election.
The retired officer believes that the Akufo-Addo administration has delivered commendable performance, making a case for the NPP’s continuation in power.
“I see the NPP as the best party that can help the country. The whole world knows what is happening. And we know what this government is doing to make sure that Ghana will be able to overcome all these problems. At least we still have free SHS, don’t we?,” Mr Mensah asked.
Alex Mensah has already disclosed his intention to contest the Asante Bekwai parliamentary seat in the Ashanti Region.
“I have been thinking about it. I will run, I will run,” he said.
Mr. Mensah, who is currently embroiled in a controversial leaked audio recording outlining a plot to remove Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, recently appeared before a Parliamentary Committee investigating the matter.
In response to a series of inquiries from Eric Opoku, the Member of Parliament for Asunafo South, regarding certain remarks attributed to the Commissioner in the leaked audio recording that implied his alignment with the NPP, COP clarified that his entire family has a longstanding allegiance to the United Party (UP) tradition, from which the NPP originated.
“Mr. Chairman, my family has been with the UP tradition ever since I was born, and we’ve remained there till now,” he said.
He later added, “I am a sympathizer of the NPP.”
Eric Opoku: “So you’re not a member, you’re a sympathizer; is that what you’re saying to this committee?”
COP Mensah: “Yes. Mr. Chairman. I’ve said it already.”
📹—Breaking ‘The 8’: We can break ‘the 8’ because we have the men and we have the capabilities to transform this country.
🎙️[COP George Alex Mensah, Fmr. Dir. Gen. Tech.- @GhPoliceService]
Several prominent members of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) have expressed their worries and criticized the Ghana Police Service’s handling of the peaceful rallies in the wake of the #OccupyJulorbiHouse protests and the ensuing illegal police actions.
Sharp criticisms have been leveled inside the NPP ranks in response to the Day 1 arrests of 49 demonstrators and the following maltreatment of the detainees.
Former President Kufuor
In order to achieve effective government and sustain peace and security, John Agyekum Kufuor has underlined his steadfast position on the value of human rights, democracy, the rule of law, and free and fair elections.
He stressed the need of adhering to these ideals in a tweet on September 21, 2023, particularly in light of the continuing protests.
Kufour’s tweet read: “Respect for human rights, democracy, rule of law, coupled with free and fair elections are essential to good governance and development of peace and security everywhere.”
Akosua Manu
The National Youth Authority’s (NYA) deputy chief executive officer, Akosua Manu, criticized the police’s conduct during the demonstrations.
She highlighted that regardless of whether an injunction was in effect, the police were not authorized to treat the protesters illegally unjustly.
Manu stated, “Injunction or not, the police cannot treat young protestors in this manner. To protest is a right enshrined under the Constitution, and the legitimacy of a protest is not dependent on the cause. IGP Dampare, respectfully establish democratic order and safeguards the rights of the protestors.”
Richard Ahiagbah
The NPP’s Director of Communication, Richard Ahiagbah, agreed that the right to demonstrate is a crucial democratic right.
He condemned the police for stopping the protesters and emphasized that such behavior was unacceptable.
Ahiagbah expressed his views, saying, “The ability of the people to demonstrate is an inherent democratic right. Therefore, the decision to stand in the way of citizens’ exercise of this fundamental right is unacceptable.”
In the other part of his tweet, he addressed the protesters: “I don’t agree with the derogatory caption of the Presidency by the organizers of the demonstration, but impeding their right to peaceful assembly is an affront to democracy–plain and simple.”
Ahiagbah continued by pointing out that peaceful protests had previously taken place during the presidency of President Akufo-Addo and questioned the timing and necessity of the police interventions during the most recent protests.
Background
On the first day of the #OccupyJulorbiHouse protests organized by the Democracy Hub on September 21, a group of young activists were subject to unlawful actions by the police. These activists, numbering 49 in total, had taken to the streets to demand action against the prevailing economic crisis and corruption.
The illegal arrests, particularly in the manner in which they were carried out by the police, sparked widespread criticism. This criticism centered on the belief that these actions were obstructing the protesters’ constitutional right to assemble and voicing concerns, and that the police had resorted to heavy-handed tactics.
Subsequently, the police transported the detainees to the regional headquarters before dispersing them to approximately eight police stations scattered across the capital city. Throughout this process, fellow protesters and lawyers worked diligently to secure bail for those who had been unjustly detained.
During this tumultuous period, other journalists and protesters who had gathered, particularly at the Accra Regional Command, found themselves subjected to various forms of police aggression. This included shoving, unwarranted detention, confiscation of their phones, and, in some unfortunate instances, physical assault.
In their initial statement issued on the same day, the police defended the illegal arrests by citing the protesters’ alleged defiance of a court injunction. However, the protesters vehemently denied that they had been properly served with the legal notice.
In a subsequent statement, the police addressed the reported arrest of a BBC journalist and his cameraman, dismissing these reports as unfounded.
As the day came to a close, GhanaWeb’s investigations revealed that nearly all the unlawfully detained protesters had been released on bail. The question now lingers as to whether Day Two of the three-day protest, targeting the government’s seat, the Jubilee House, will proceed as planned on September 22, 2023.
“In partnership with ANDE, we are discussing and promoting the role of small and growing businesses in delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); because, as it stands now, we are not on track to meet the 2023 goals we set as a global community.
“Small and growing businesses have an important role to play in helping meet these goals. They are the engine of growth in Ghana and most developing countries of Africa. They have already contributed so much to Ghana’s economy by creating jobs; and if they can grow, then they can do so much more than we see now,” she said.
Injunction or not, the police cannot treat young protestors in this manner. To protest is a right enshrined under the Constitution and the legitimacy of a protest is not dependent on the cause. IGP Dampare, respectfully establish democratic order and safeguard the rights of the…
The ability of the people to demonstrate is an inherent democratic right. Therefore, the decision to stand in the way of citizens' exercise of this fundamental right is unacceptable. I don't agree with the derogatory caption of the Presidency by the organizers of the…
Spokesperson for Ghana’s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has expressed concern over the frequent and harsh criticisms and insults directed at Dr. Bawumia by fellow contenders in the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) flagbearer race.
While acknowledging Dr. Bawumia’s resilience in the face of these insults, Gideon Boako, emphasized that such behavior from his opponents will not secure them victory in the flagbearer contest.
Mr Boako took to social media to underscore that despite the disparagement, Dr. Bawumia remains steadfast in his campaign and is well-positioned to win the presidential primaries scheduled for November 4, leading the NPP into the 2024 general elections.
He urged supporters of rival aspirants to concentrate on promoting their candidates to the party delegates, emphasizing that no amount of insults or attacks will deter the Vice President from prevailing in the race.
“Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is a good man. Yes, he is a good man. In the flagbearer elections campaign, Dr. Bawumia is the most attacked, the most abused, the most vilified, the most disrespected, the most denigrated, and what and what, but he is still calm and very focused.”
“He has not been responding to his attackers and has not shown any sign of the same. I wonder how many of his competitors can do the same.”
“Interestingly, those exhibiting such abusive attitudes against the Veep are the ones crying the most. How interesting it is. First, it was Alan’s supporters. Now it is Ken and his supporters, but Bawumia remains calm.”
Dr Boako also insisted that desperation does not win election for anyone.
“I can understand the desperation and frustration in some of the aspirants, hence the needless attacks.”
“But let it be said that their insults and attacks on the person of the Vice President and his family can not win them the elections. What didn’t we see or hear before the superdelegates and what happened?,” he quizzed.
The National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Stephen Ntim, has characterized the public apology of the embattled Dome-Kwabenya MP, Sarah Adwoa Safo, to the party and her constituents as fitting and appropriate.
Mr. Ntim believes that the apology signifies the MP’s remorse for her actions. He further stated that Adwoa Safo fulfilled the necessary steps expected of her, and the party has received it with open arms.
“Adwoa Safo’s apology is in order; I really support her objective because she knows the NPP is the only party she belongs to. So, she is doing what is expected of her, I mean the apology and all that,” Chairman Ntim said.
However, Mr. Ntim added that Sarah Adwoa Safo remains a member of the party, and her return to Parliament will ultimately depend on the decision of her constituents.
“If the constituents accept her to be an MP once again despite all that has gone on, I as Chairman and the rest of the party leadership will back her with our spirits to become an MP.
“So, her fate rests in the hands of Dome-Kwabenya delegates, from polling station to the constituency level,” Chairman Ntim added.
In a video shared on Facebook on September 14, the former Gender Minister issued an apology to the NPP for the controversies that arose due to her prolonged absence from parliamentary duties.
She openly acknowledged that her actions were without justification and expressed deep regret, attributing her absenteeism to personal challenges.
During her apology, she extended her regrets to President Akufo-Addo, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, the Chief of Staff, parliamentary leadership, the party’s leadership, and her constituents.
“It was not my intention to disrespect you. There was a lot going on in my life and family. I’m using this medium to plead for your forgiveness in the name of God,” she said.
Adwoa Safo’s extended absence from parliament became one of the most widely debated topics in the country in 2022, causing division within both the legislative house and the party.
This discussion stemmed from her departure from the country in November 2021.
Deputy General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Obiri Boahen, has called for the expulsion of Member of Parliament (MP) for Dome Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo, from the party.
Mr Obiri Boahen argued that the MP displayed a lack of professionalism and discipline as a politician when she held the party hostage.
He advised the NPP to dismiss her apology and attempts to reconcile with her constituency and party members and instead take the step of expelling her.
“In my opinion, anywhere you find yourself, there must be discipline. People have served the party but have not benefited, but for you, Adwoa Safo, you are an NPP member, you have become an MP, Deputy Minister and a Minister of State and as a party, we need your assistance in taking decisions to vote.”
“You kept saying you won’t come, the party pleaded, you insisted you won’t come, then you’re telling me that Adwoa Safo has pleaded for her actions and so we should do what? Should they accept her so that she returns to parliament again?”
“Impossible! We need to be disciplined. If you’re a politician and you are not disciplined, then there will be problems for you,” he stated.
During an interview on Okay FM, Mr. Boahen expressed his preference for the NPP to disregard Adwoa Safo and risk losing the Dome Kwabenya seat rather than forgiving and readmitting her to the party.
His statement came in the wake of Adwoa Safo’s public apology to her constituents and party members the previous week regarding her extended absence from parliament in 2022, which had sparked a nationwide debate.
The former Gender Minister acknowledged that her absence, although detrimental to the party, was not intentional. She clarified that her actions were a result of personal challenges she faced within her family during that period.
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has cautioned his campaign team members and spokesperson not to attack anybody, even if he is attacked by any aspirant, in the interest of the New Patriotic Party.
“This should be a contest of ideas not insults. So I have told all my staff not to insult or attack anyone. They should stick to sharing my vision and message to delegates. I have told them that even if I am attacked or insulted, they, should not respond because I am a unifier.”
According to Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, his main focus is to share his ideas and project the good works of the NPP Government to party stakeholders, as he tours around the country.
Speaking to NPP delegates in Asutifi in the Ahafo Region, Dr. Bawumia said he does not believe in attacking his opponents in an internal contest, when the ultimate objective of every member of the NPP is to see the party defeat the NDC in 2024.
“I don’t believe in attacking my opponents and I won’t do that because it will be toxic and won’t be good for our party,” Dr. Bawumia said.
“This is an internal contest to elect our flagbearer, so why should I attack my opponents or say something against our party? I am running a very decent campaign. I am selling my ideas to delegates and I do that with decorum, with humility, with respect and without mentioning anybody’s name.”
“I am selling my ideas to delegates and I do that with decorum, with humility, with respect and without mentioning anybody's name.” – Dr. Bawumia
Me. This is the kind of leader we want to lead our great party, the party needs a competent candidate who embodies unity and can… pic.twitter.com/dWN0pDiGZj
Managing Director of the State Transport Corporation (STC), Nana Akomea, has noted that he is aware of the current wobbling stands between the government and the general public.
But he assures that government is still working tirelessly to restore the country’s misplaced fortunes as they head to the 2024 presidential elections.
“We are aware that the present government is facing significant unpopularity, largely stemming from the multitude of hardships experienced by citizens and the expression of widespread discontent. However, in the realm of politics, it has been said that even a single week can bring about substantial changes. The government remains dedicated to making concerted efforts to improve the situation, particularly in terms of governance and the economy. The goal is to provide a greater level of comfort to the citizens, ” he told the media during an interview.
Mr. Akomea has also called on the presidential aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kennedy Agyapong, to exercise restraint in his statements concerning Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
This appeal follows a bold statement made by the Assin Central MP regarding the murder of investigative journalist Ahmed Suale.
Mr. Agyapong stated that Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia should be aware of the individual responsible for the journalist’s killing, dismissing any suggestions of the Vice President’s involvement in the crime.
Mr. Agyapong made these remarks during an interview on Kessben TV on Monday, September 18, 2023.
“Those who wrote the 10 sins (of Ken Agyapong) in support of Bawumia, he (Bawumia) is the vice president, he is the head of the police council, they know the killers of Ahmed Suale, why have they not spoken out? And they are coming to blame me for it,” he is quoted to have said.
In a letter addressed to the party, Dennis Kwakwa explained that his primary reason for resigning is the necessity to meet specific requirements to pursue other political aspirations.
In the letter, Kwakwa expressed his profound gratitude for the opportunity given to him by the Regional Executive Body to contribute to the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
He also conveyed his deep affection and respect for the work he had undertaken as the Communication Officer, recognising the importance of this role within the party.
“Though I love and cherish working in such a role, it is a requirement I have to fulfil in order to pursue other political goals in my political career,” Kwakwa stated in the letter.
Former presidential aspirant of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, has expressed his belief that the NPP will face a formidable challenge in the 2024 general elections.
During an interview on Citi TV’s program “The Point of View,” the former Minister for Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation remarked that the NPP’s performance over the past seven years has raised concerns.
He noted that the party had “over-promised and under-delivered” on its commitments to the Ghanaian people, which he believes will make it challenging for the NPP to secure victory in the 2024 elections.
Furthermore, Professor Frimpong-Boateng expressed his disappointment with the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), stating that neither of the two major parties appears to offer a promising option for Ghana’s future.
“It will be difficult for the NPP to win the 2024 elections. It is a fact that they [the NPP] have over-promised and under-delivered but everything is possible but the NDC is also not giving me any hope.”
Professor Frimpong-Boateng expressed his optimism in the past, believing that the NPP would maintain its grip on power for an extended period.
He based this optimism on his perception of how the NDC had mishandled the country before President Akufo-Addo assumed office in 2016. However, recent developments and a comparison of the two administrations have proven his optimism to be unfounded.
“When I was in government, I said the way the NDC had mismanaged the country, we were going to help the president and work so that the NPP would still be there even after forty years and there would be no romantic ideas about the NDC again and now look at where we are. I thought we were going to work and there would be no romantic ideas about Mahama and the NDC ever coming back.”
“There should be a change in the two political parties and how they do their things because there are very good people in the NDC same as the NPP,” he further proposed.
Aaron Kumah, a lecturer at the Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED), has weighed in on the recent political decisions made by the Member of Parliament for Dome Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo.
Kumah is strongly urging the New Patriotic Party (NPP) not to allow her to participate in the upcoming primaries as a candidate.
Kumah’s position is rooted in Adwoa Safo’s recent public apology, which he views as a strategic maneuver aimed at securing her continued presence in parliamentary politics.
The lecturer contends that Adwoa Safo’s recent actions have demonstrated a lack of respect for the party, and he believes this disregard should be a critical factor when evaluating her candidacy.
While recognizing the significance of issuing apologies when one acknowledges their errors, he remains skeptical about the sincerity of Adwoa Safo’s apology.
He remarked, “For her to come and beg, I see no regret in her. What I see is that because she has realized that we are going for primaries and initially she didn’t want to contest again, but now she has realized that she can go again, so she wants to come and apologize.
“If they forgive her and NPP delegates vote for her to become an MP again, she will lose miserably because what she did is disheartening.”
The main source of Kumah’s worries is what she perceives to be Adwoa Safo’s lack of regard for the party.
Her limited exposure to a regular classroom setting as a result of home tuition, he said, may have contributed to this mindset.
Last week, the former gender minister ended her silence regarding her extended absence from parliament.
During this statement, she tendered a wholehearted apology to her party and its members, providing insight into the personal difficulties she and her family encountered during that period.
Adwoa Safo admitted that her absence had not been deliberate and conveyed sincere regret for any inconvenience it might have caused.
She specifically addressed key figures within her party, stating, “I want to use this platform to apologize to my party, and leaders of the party. The first is President Akufo-Addo, the Vice President, the Chief of Staff, the Majority Leader, and the entire Majority Caucus.”
She continued, “I want to apologize because it was not intentional, there was a lot going on in my life and that of my family. I am using this medium to plead with you all in the name of God. To my regional executives and my constituency executive, the headquarters of the NPP, I plead with you all, including sympathizers and supporters who love the party and myself, to forgive me for everything that has happened.”
Presidential aspirant for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kennedy Agyapong, has beefed up his campaign ahead of the party’s Presidential Primary slated for November 4, 2023.
For about a week, the Assin Central MP has been providing free rides to electorates via a bus branded with his image and campaign message.
In a video circulating on social media, a female staunch supporter called on citizens to hop on, while entreating them to vote for Mr Agyapong as President come the 2024 election.
“This is Honourable Kennedy Agyapong’s handiwork, Accra free; come and pick the car and vote for him, showdown man.”
The bus transported individuals stationed at Kwame Nkrumah Circle who were heading to Accra.
Mr Kennedy Agyapong has secured the top position on the ballot paper for the New Patriotic Party’s presidential primary on November 4.
In the balloting process conducted, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has been assigned the second spot, followed by Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto in the third position, and Francis Addai Nimo in the fourth position.
At the end of the NPP’s Super Delegates Conference held on August 26, 2023, he placed third after obtaining 10.29% of the votes cast, while Dr Bawumia, considered the front runner, obtained 68.15% of the total valid votes.
Kennedy Agyapong's Showdown Bus Hits the Streets, Offering Free Rides to Travelers 🚌 pic.twitter.com/bJTsQvxDeD
Former President John Dramani Mahama, who is also the flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), has made a commitment to finish all ongoing projects, including those initiated by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, if he is elected in 2024.
Mahama emphasized that the NDC is a patriotic and conscientious political party that upholds the principle of continuity and is resolute in ensuring that taxpayers’ resources are not squandered.
“I’m making a promise that when we come, we will continue all abandoned projects.
Even projects that this current NPP government does not finish, we will continue and finish because they are funded by taxpayers’ money, so when you abandon them, you’re wasting the money of Ghanaians,” he said.
Former President John Dramani Mahama made this declaration on Saturday, September 16, 2023, during the NDC Greater Accra Regional Zongo Caucus Stakeholders Forum held in Accra.
The forum convened representatives from diverse Zongo and Muslim groups and institutions both within and outside the party. Its purpose was to facilitate the exchange of experiences and discussions on topics of shared interest, fostering social connections and a sense of community.
Among the notable figures in attendance was the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Usmanu Nuhu Sharubutu.
Mr. Mahama’s commitment came in the wake of his criticism of the current administration for allegedly neglecting significant projects initiated by his party, particularly in Zongo communities, before he left office in 2016.
“When we were sharing the E-Blocks, several of them were allocated to the Zongo and Muslim communities but many of those schools have been abandoned. We have done a lot in our Zongos but we are not the type who come with a paper and read. Our people can see for themselves the work the NDC did when we were in office,” he stressed.
Mr. Mahama conveyed his heartfelt appreciation for the substantial support that his party has consistently received from the Zongo communities and the Islamic fraternity over the years. He assured them that he would never underestimate this support.
Furthermore, he pledged that the party would maintain an ongoing partnership and engagement with these communities, with the goal of regularly understanding their grievances and concerns, and actively working to resolve them.
“We appreciate that support and that’s why anytime we come to power, we try to make sure that when we are sharing the National cake and development, the Zongos get their fair share,” the 2024 NDC flagbearer added.
During his address, he took the opportunity to encourage all eligible citizens who have reached voting age to participate in the current limited voter registration process. Additionally, he urged the responsible officials to refrain from engaging in discriminatory practices, particularly targeting individuals they believe may not be Ghanaian solely based on their names.
“Everybody came from somewhere and that is why Ghana is a strong nation.
We are united in our diversity and cultures so we must know that we are all Ghanaians and have equal rights to be recognised as such,” the former President said.
The Deputy National Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Jennifer Oforiwaah Queen, has voiced her frustrations concerning the conduct of Sarah Adwoa Safo, the Member of Parliament for Dome-Kwabenya.
Adwoa Safo faced intense scrutiny for her prolonged nine-month absence from parliamentary and government duties. This absence ultimately led to her removal from her position as the Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, as well as calls for her ousting as an MP.
Upon her return to the country, Sarah Adwoa Safo expressed her intention to seek re-election to parliament and issued an apology to both the NPP and her constituents for her previous behavior.
Jennifer Oforiwaah Queen conveyed the disappointment of constituents who feel let down by the MP’s actions towards the constituency. She underlined that Adwoa Safo would not have been elected without the support of her constituents.
Additionally, Queen pointed out a recurring pattern in the MP’s behavior over the years. She noted, “In 2012, after winning the elections, she left the constituency without explanation, and the same pattern repeated in 2016 and 2020.”
With regard to Adwoa Safo’s role as the former Minister of Gender, Queen raised concerns about her performance, saying, “She was responsible for issues concerning children on the streets, women facing rape and abuse, and recent cases of rape and murder. I haven’t seen any significant actions during her time in office.”
Queen also recounted an incident involving the Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei Opare, whom she referred to as Maa Frema. According to her, Maa Frema paid a visit to Adwoa Safo’s home but was made to wait for four hours.
Jennifer Oforiwaah Queen expressed her disappointment in Adwoa Safo’s failure to consider her party affiliation, stating, “I expected this girl to come and apologize. That’s what she always does. She should have thought about the fact that she belongs to a political party.”
Jenifer Queen’s qualm towards Sarah Adwoa Safo stems from the MP’s extended absence from parliamentary duties, perceived neglect of her constituency, and concerns about her performance during her tenure as the former Minister of Gender.
An attempt by the New Patriotic Party’s Communications Director, Richard Ahiagbah, to have private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu removed from TV3’s ‘The Keypoints’ program was unsuccessful as the show’s host, Alfred Ocansey, pushed back.
During the September 16, 2023 episode, Ahiagbah expressed dissatisfaction with Kpebu’s allegations of corruption against President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and some government officials.
He insisted that TV3 should address Kpebu’s behavior, which the NPP finds intolerable.
“My senior brother, Martin Kpebu, I think TV3 and Media General… I’m the Director of Communication of the New Patriotic Party. As the party of the president, I believe I reserve the right to talk about this”
“I think that Media General will have to exercise some responsibility to its viewers and listeners and take a decision on Martin Kpebu’s continued presence on the show and his propensity to insult the president and government at will. It is completely unacceptable!. I think we need to have a decision from Media General on this matter,” Ahiagbah suggested.
In a swift retort, the show’s host, Alfred Ocansey, reminded Richard Ahiagbah of his political role and emphasized that Ahiagbah had no authority to dictate the show’s panel composition.
Ocansey stressed that it was solely the prerogative of the show’s producers and TV3 staff to determine the panelists, and they would not permit political interference in their selection process.
He also pointed out that when it had been necessary to rein in Martin Kpebu’s comments, he had already taken appropriate action, rendering Ahiagbah’s comment irrelevant and baseless.
“For us here, we exercise that editorial right to decide on who comes on this platform or otherwise. It is that editorial right that we consistently exercise in bringing Martin Kpebu on this platform. For us as a political party, you cannot dictate or decide who comes on this platform and what the person says,” Alfred Ocansey maintained.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has stated that the significant increase in the producer price of cocoa for the upcoming 2023/2024 cocoa season will provide farmers with a stable and secure source of income.
The party highlighted that the 63.5% raise in the farm-gate price represents the highest increase in 50 years among the West African sub-regional cocoa-producing nations. The NPP encouraged farmers to disregard critics who attempt to diminish the importance of this substantial increase.
During a press conference held in Accra, Mr. Richard Ahiagbah, the Director of Communications for the NPP, asserted that this price hike would serve as a motivator for cocoa farmers to increase their cultivation efforts and could also entice new entrants into the industry.
He further emphasized that an increase in cocoa production would generate employment opportunities across the entire value chain and contribute to the long-term sustainability of the cocoa sector.
“Cocoa farmers will receive a higher price for their cocoa beans, increasing their income. Farmers can use the extra income to improve their living standards, invest in their farms, and meet other financial needs.
“It reduces their vulnerability to economic shocks, leading to a more stable and secure livelihood,” he said.
On Saturday, September 9, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo announced a revised cocoa price during the launch of the 2023/2024 cocoa season at an event in Tepa, located in the Ashanti Region.
The new cocoa price has been increased from GHC 12,800.00 per tonne to GHC 20,943.00 per tonne, representing a substantial 63.5% increase. This new price marks the highest in the sub-region over the past 15 years and aims to enhance the living standards of cocoa farmers by providing them with a fair compensation for their efforts.
Mr. Ahiagbah refuted allegations made by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) that the government had unfairly compensated farmers with a “meager fraction” of what it could earn on the international market. He clarified that the calculations for the new price were based on the achieved Free-On-Board (FoB) Price of $2,600 per tonne from the forward sales of cocoa, using an exchange rate of GH₵11.50 to a dollar.
Furthermore, he explained that the country had engaged in forward sales of substantial cocoa volumes to secure a syndicated loan for farmer payments.
As a result, the determination of the Producer Price considered the achieved FoB Price obtained over several months of sales. Since prices in the forward sales market differed significantly from spot sale prices, the most recent FoB Price of $2,600 per tonne served as the foundation for calculating the new Producer Prices.
The National Youth Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Salam Mustapha, has expressed his satisfaction with the initial week of the limited voter registration exercise.
Commencing on Tuesday, September 12, the Electoral Commission launched this registration effort with the aim of enrolling first-time voters who have yet to obtain their Voter ID cards.
Despite opposition from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and certain civil society organizations, the registration process has been ongoing at the district offices of the Electoral Commission nationwide.
During the first week, there were reports of system failures in some areas, which necessitated the commission’s officers to resort to offline registrations.
Additionally, long queues were observed at certain registration centers, mainly due to the restriction of registration to the commission’s district offices.
Salam Mustapha conducted tours of various centers, including Ada, Sege, and other constituencies in the national capital, and he commended the impressive turnout and performance of the Electoral Commission’s officers.
On the other hand, the National Democratic Congress accused the commission of obstructing registration in its strongholds. The opposition party claimed that the majority of the areas experiencing system challenges were situated in their strongholds exclusively.
However, Salam Mustapha refuted the NDC’s allegations, asserting that the challenges encountered were not limited to any particular district but were widespread. He provided examples from the Ashanti region and other significant NPP strongholds to support his argument.
Director of Elections and Research for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Evans Nimako, has commended the Electoral Commission (EC) for its management of the ongoing limited voter registration process.
During an interview on Eyewitness News on Citi FM, Nimako expressed his support for the EC’s decision to restrict the registration centers to its district offices.
He argued that expanding the number of centers would only escalate the expenses associated with monitoring the exercise for political parties and other interested parties.
“When you sit back and do the assessment, you may conclude that if the EC opens up more registration centres, it helps but the more centres you have, the more cost you will incur as a party because you will have to put together your agents to observe this process. Either way, you will incur some amount of cost and some burden,” he said.
“The New Patriotic Party put forward the argument that in 2019, additional registration centres were created by the EC for purposes of registration aside from the district offices and so it was our position we stick with the district offices.
“The unfortunate thing is that our colleagues in the NDC have elected themselves not to participate in [Inter Party Advisory Committee] IPAC discussions and the other political parties that participate are labelled as mushroom parties created by the NPP but they are today able to join forces and sue the EC.”
Nimako also refuted claims that the NPP is luring registrants with monetary incentives, masking them as transportation allowances. He emphasized that the party’s primary commitment is to facilitate the registration of all eligible individuals, ensuring their right to vote is upheld.
“The New Patriotic Party is ready to facilitate the registration process for our members who are due [to vote] because the law says once you are eighteen years and above and of sound mind and your name is not already in the register, the EC must ensure that you get your name registered,” he said.
The National Youth Organiser of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), George Opare Addo, has refuted allegations that his party has been transporting potential registrants to the limited voter registration centers.
Instead, he has asserted that it is the NPP (New Patriotic Party) that is involved in such activities, suggesting that they have wrongly accused the NDC of the same.
“We have seen videos of NPP going around communities dishing out money to people who have now turned 18 years to register. Have you seen any video of anybody from NDC bussing people?” he asked.
Opare Addo also acknowledged that it is entirely reasonable for individuals to seek assistance from their leaders when they encounter financial challenges.
“When you are leaders of a community and your members reach out to you about registration being done in communities far away where they are. And so we mobilised ourselves, can you help us with transportation, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it,” he said.
Opare Addo also maintained that the NDC has no intention of participating in Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meetings where their input is not taken into consideration.
He pointed to the behavior of the EC Boss, Jean Mensa, as the reason that led to their decision to abstain from IPAC.
“We have been told by Jean Mensa that IPAC cannot advise her on things we have to do. On many occasions, we have gone on IPAC meetings and made some suggestions and Jean Mensa have been bold enough to tell us that she doesn’t need our suggestions. We don’t see the need to attend IPAC,” he said.
Opare Addo’s remarks are made in the midst of allegations that both the NDC and the NPP are involved in voter mobilization strategies, which encompass the transportation of individuals to registration centers and the provision of financial incentives to potential registrants.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has conducted a ballot for its potential flagbearers in preparation for the delegates’ conference scheduled for November 4, 2023.
During the ballot held in Accra on September 13, 2023, Kennedy Agyapong drew the first slot, followed by Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who selected the second slot. Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, the former Minister for Agriculture, chose the third slot, while Francis Addai Nimo, former MP for Mampong, secured the fourth slot.
The party’s national election committee oversaw the ballot. The NPP intends to use the national delegates’ conference to elect its flagbearer for the 2024 general elections.
The NPP’s flagbearer race currently involves four prominent contenders: Ken Agyapong, Dr. Bawumia, Dr. Akoto, and Alan Kyeremateng, who withdrew from the race after the Special Delegates Conference.
Ken Agyapong, a prominent NPP Member of Parliament representing Assin Central, has been an outspoken critic of the government and has pledged to bring about change if elected as the flagbearer.
Dr. Bawumia, the current Vice President, is considered the frontrunner and is favored among the party’s intellectuals due to his reputation as a dependable leader.
Dr. Akoto, a former Minister of Agriculture, is recognized as a technocrat with expertise in his field.
The NPP, Ghana’s ruling party since 2017, aspires to secure a third term in office in the 2024 general elections.
The party faces a formidable challenge from the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), led by former President John Mahama, who seeks to return to power in 2024.
The 2024 general elections are expected to be closely contested, with the NPP and NDC emerging as the primary contenders.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has emphasized its commitment to closely observe the ongoing limited voter registration process, even in the midst of its legal action against the Electoral Commission (EC).
On Tuesday, September 12, the NDC lodged allegations against the Electoral Commission, asserting that the voter registration process was intentionally made challenging in areas where the party enjoys significant support.
The ongoing limited voter registration aims to register more than 1.3 million individuals who have reached the age of 18 since the previous registration exercise in 2020.
The 21-day registration initiative commenced on Tuesday, September 12, with a planned conclusion on October 2.
During a press briefing, the National Chairman of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, asserted that party members are committed to overseeing the exercise to prevent any potential manipulation by the Electoral Commission.
“We are ready, very ready but we care for the poor registrants who must cater for the costs and constraints of being registered to vote. We currently have our agents and officers in all 268 district offices of the Electoral Commission countrywide and we are keenly and actively monitoring the process.
“We will ensure that the manipulation of the EC and the NPP to rig the process are defeated and defeated soundly.”
The NDC has accused the Electoral Commission of manipulation in the limited voter registration, warning that failure to call the EC to order could lead to severe consequences.
Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mavis Hawa Koomson, emphatically asserts that in the upcoming 2024 elections, no candidate within the New Patriotic Party can articulate the party’s narrative better than Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
The Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East maintains that Dr. Bawumia’s active collaboration with President Akufo-Addo in governance positions him as the most qualified leader to spearhead the party’s aspirations of ‘Breaking the 8-year cycle’.
She highlights Dr. Bawumia’s significant contributions as Vice President, citing his remarkable achievements and undeniable impact that serve as a testament to his capabilities.
During an interview with Citi TV on Tuesday, September 12, Madam Koomson passionately called upon all loyal members of the NPP to unite and rally behind him in order to secure victory in the November 4 election.
“Dr. Bawumia is the very one who can break the ‘8’,” she said. “He has worked with President Akufo-Addo for the past eight years. He knows where we started from and where we are now. So he has a story to tell.”
“Apart from Dr. Bawumia, nobody can tell the story of the government, and that is why we are all supporting him,” she said.
In the New Patriotic Party’s Super Delegates Congress, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia emerged as the frontrunner. Out of the 10 candidates who had initially picked up forms to contest the central presidential primaries slated for November 4, Dr. Bawumia secured the top position. After tallying the results from all 17 polling centers across the country, Dr. Bawumia garnered an impressive 68.15% of the total votes cast.
Following him was Kennedy Agyapong, the MP for Assin Central, who secured 14.3% of the total votes. Alan Kyerematen, the former Trades Minister, took the third position with 10.29% of the total votes, while former Agric Minister Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto came in fourth with 3.90%.
Interestingly, there was a tie between Francis Addai Nimoh and former Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko, both receiving 0.98% of the total votes cast. Consequently, a runoff was scheduled for Saturday, September 2, but the National Council decided to intervene and constitute an electoral college comprised of the National Council members to break the tie between Mr. Agyarko and his competitor, Francis Addai Nimoh.
Regrettably, Mr. Boakye Agyarko formally withdrew from the upcoming runoff election in response to this decision.
The Youth Wing of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is demanding an apology and a retraction from the Youth Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Salam Mustapha, for what they describe as his deliberate spreading of false and misleading information about the limited voter registration exercise.
The NDC youth assert that Salam Mustapha falsely accused their party of planning to create disturbances at registration centers, which they believe was an attempt to stir public sentiment against the NDC.
“We in the NDC unequivocally deny any plans and activities as stated by the ruling party’s National Youth Organizer and urge all Ghanaians and international allies to ignore such ridiculous and infantile display of leadership weakness by Salam Mustapha,” a statement issued by Deputy National Youth Organiser Osman Ayariga said.
“We condemn such irresponsible and violent behaviour by a leader who is supposed to promote peace and embrace tranquility in all his operations and utterances on national discourse.
“He must withdraw the lies and disturbing commentary and apologize or provide evidence if any to support his baseless allegations.
“Failure to do, he has to be invited by the police since his statement has the potential of causing fear and panic.”
Youth Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Salam Mustapha
The NDC youth claim it is rather the NPP that has intentions “of causing mayhem at the various registration centers with their notorious thugs as it has been the modus operandi of the incumbent to perpetrate violence during electoral processes and turn around to blame the NDC”.
They encouraged the citizens of Ghana to participate in the voter registration process without succumbing to intimidation stemming from the remarks made by the NPP Youth Organiser.
“The National Democratic Congress urges all Ghanaians that we will continuously practice the tenets of a responsible opposition with recourse to the laws of the country, demonstrate empathy and commitment towards the needs and development of the citizenry and protect public interest.”
Deputy Constituency Communication Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Anyaa Sowuttuom, Ralph Apetorgbor, has alleged that the Electoral Commission is closely aligned with the current government.
He has argued that the Electoral Commission’s refusal to address concerns and appeals to open up the ongoing limited voter registration process poses a significant threat to the nation’s governance.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, September 12, 2023, coinciding with the commencement of the limited registration exercise nationwide, Ralph Apetorgbor emphasized that this stance taken by the EC should be a cause for concern for everyone, both within and beyond the country’s borders.
“The unholy alliance between Jean Mensa’s EC and the NPP is a threat to our democracy. The EC’s decision to ignore the call by political parties to open up the limited registration process to be conducted at the electoral areas is a testament that Jean Mansa and her commissioners are ‘inside the deepest corner of Nana Akufo-Addo’s pocket.’
“Ghanaians and the international community should be worried! No wonder the EC is a monumental disgrace,” he wrote.
The Electoral Commission of Ghana has officially commenced a limited voter registration exercise, effective today, September 12, 2023, at all its regional offices nationwide.
This registration process, characterized by criticism regarding its design, is scheduled to conclude on October 2, 2023.
Visuals of Limited Voter Registration exercise at EC Headquarters where the exercise for three Districts i.e Ayawaso West Wuogon, Ayawaso North, Korley Klottey are underway.#GHOneNewspic.twitter.com/Rh3naaTgpM
The former Deputy Spokesperson for Alan Kyerematen’s campaign, Richard Nyamah, has declared his determination to regain the Kpandai seat for the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
He has expressed his commitment to securing a victory for the party, which lost the seat in the 2020 general elections.
In a press release issued on Monday, Mr. Nyamah affirmed his readiness for the upcoming challenge and stated that he is prepared to go to great lengths to achieve success.
“As an aspiring Parliamentary Candidate for Kpandai, his withdrawal from the race makes my role as his Deputy Spokesperson and Deputy Director of Communications to his campaign redundant and ineffectual.”
“As a result, I am by this statement informing the public of my intention to refocus all my efforts henceforth, on my campaign to become the Parliamentary Candidate of the NPP in Kpandai to ensure we recapture the seat from the NDC and help NPP break the eight.”
Meanwhile, he thanked Mr Kyerematen for the opportunity to serve him.
“I thank Hon Kyerematen for the opportunity to have served him and the party and wish him well as he reevaluates his role in Ghanaian politics. I also wish to thank the Ghanaian media for its support so far and hope that as I deepen my focus on the Kpandai seat, I will continue to enjoy the same level of cooperation.”
Salam Mustapha, the National Youth Organizer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has alleged that the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is plotting to disrupt the imminent limited voter registration exercise.
During a live social media interaction, Mustapha urged the Ghana Police Service to remain vigilant and respond appropriately to such attempts.
“The NDC intends to misbehave a lot as the process begins because they want to give the Electoral Commission a bad name. They are mobilizing thugs, bandits, and crooks across the country to attack district officers and other places where the registration will be ongoing.
“I want to urge the Ghana Police Service to be on the lookout for such clandestine and dastardly behaviour from the NDC and it should not be tolerated. We cannot allow dangerous people to destroy our democracy,” Mustapha said.
Mustapha also urged Ghanaians to support the NPP to maintain power, ensuring continuity in development, particularly emphasizing the party’s job creation agenda. He firmly stated that the NPP remains the country’s best choice.
“In terms of job creation, the NPP has created more jobs than any other government we have seen. The NDC in 2020 came with a manifesto that the aim was to create one million jobs in four years.
“In essence, they are going to create 250,000 every year. That is a very lazy approach and a drop in the ocean. The NPP has so far created far in excess of two million jobs and these figures are verifiable,” Mustapha said.
The limited voter registration exercise is set to commence on Tuesday, September 12, under the oversight of the Electoral Commission (EC), aimed at updating the voters’ register in preparation for the 2024 general elections.
President Akufo-Addo has slammed his predecessor for his recent comment on the composition of the judiciary.
The president is of the assertion that the Judiciary is not politically biased, as suggested by former President John Dramani Mahama.
Former President John Dramani Mahama has claimed that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government has selected individuals with close ties to the ruling party to hold positions within the judiciary.
Mr Mahama contended that President Akufo-Addo’s appointments to the judiciary seem to be a deliberate strategy aimed at installing judges who might lean toward his interests once his tenure ends.
The 2024 National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer proposed that the president’s actions are designed to protect himself from accountability once he finishes his term in office.
Mr Mahama said: “Currently, the judiciary is packed with NPP-inclined judges because this government has carried out a deliberate policy of putting their people onto the bench.”
“He has appointed the biggest number of judges onto the bench, it is more than 80 towards 100 and counting. You can see what the current president has done. He has packed the court, and we know they have packed the court because they want to avoid accountability after they have left office.”
He made this assertion while addressing the closing ceremony of the 3rd Annual Lawyers Conference of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Saturday, September 2.
Reacting to his comment at the 2023/2024 annual general conference of the Ghana Bar Association which began on Monday, September 11, President Akufo-Addo noted that such statements attack the integrity and independence of the Judiciary. According to the President, such comments must not be uttered by “an allegedly responsible politician of the 4th Republic.”
“He has told the world that I have packed the courts with so called NPP judges and that one of the key purposes of opposition NDC in 2024 will be to enable him to balance the courts with so called NDC judges.
“Not only are these concepts of “NPP NDC Judges” new in our public discourse, they are also extremely dangerous. They represent the most brazen attack on the Independence of the Judiciary by an allegedly responsible politician of the 4th Republic,” the president said.
This year’s conference is on the theme: “Ensuring High Standards and Integrity in Public Life: The Role of Legal Profession.”
