The campaign for Alan Kyeremanten’s spokesperson, Yaw Buaben Asamoa, has blasted President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for betraying the former Minister of Trade.
He claimed that while Mr. Kyerematen made sacrifices for Nana Akufo-Addo to serve as the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) flagbearer in 2008, the President declined to support him in the 2024 elections.
On May 19, 2023, Buaben Asamoa revealed in an interview with Wontumi TV that in the 2007 and 2008 NPP primaries, which featured seventeen competitive candidates, including twelve cabinet members, Alan Kyerematen finished second and then-Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama finished third.
But Alan Kyerematen gave up his chance to face Akufo-Addo in a runoff in order to show his support for the latter’s efforts to strengthen party cohesion and their chances of success in the general elections.
“2007 and 2008, Alan really prepared and that particular primaries I am not sure we will witness its kind in Ghana ever again because it comprises seventeen strong candidates and about twelve of them were all cabinet members, there were a lot of big names who were contesting at that time.
“So, after Kufuor’s tenure, what happened? People accused Kufour of supporting Alan and opposed him that they won’t agree because they wanted Nana Addo, and Kufuor agreed. So, we went to Legon for the primaries and Alan became second among all the big men in the contest.
“That time vice president Alhaji Aliu Mahama, may his soul rest in peace, was third and Alan was second, so they were supposed to go into a run-off but Alan sacrificed it for Akufo-Addo saying, my senior brother Nana Addo, I have given you the go-ahead. So, go and contest for the presidency so that the unity among us and the party will be stronger and for us to win the elections as well so I am sacrificing for you,” he said.
“But if you check now, his senior brother’s (Akufo-Addo) time is up and he is about to leave, we have heard that he has mounted behind a different candidate to come and contest, and the party is saying that as tradition demands like we used to do in the olden days as we did for you president, and in your own words, you said after Alan sacrificed for you, he has done well, in his own words, so in future when you complete your tenure you will allow Alan to continue because it will be his time ….and we left everything and supported you. But now that it is time for you to act according to the norms, the same thing that you complained about Kufour doing to you, today you are….” he lamented.
Buaben Asamoa emphasized the commitment Akufo-Addo made to Kyerematen, in which he acknowledged the sacrifice and said he would back Kyerematen to be the party’s leader after his own term ended. Then, he expressed disappointment that Akufo-Addo appeared to have broken his word, going against the party’s rules and principles.
