Former trade minister Alan Kyerematen chastised finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta for failing to defend the government’s decision to request IMF assistance for the balance of payments.
Kyerematen recently declared his intention to leave the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and run as an independent in the 2024 presidential election. He expressed his displeasure with Ofori-Atta’s handling of the matter.
Alan Kyerematen claimed to be the first senior government official to publicly defend the IMF deal in a yet-to-air interview on The Point of View on Citi TV.
He stated, “I was the first person in a leadership position who went publicly to defend the position of the IMF. I came out on my own, nobody instructed me to go. I made a solid case. Did you hear the Minister of Finance come to defend? I am talking about the early weeks and months following IMF. I went out publicly to defend it.”
Mr. Kyerematen cited a lack of appreciation for his contributions to the party in his announcement and expressed worry about the possibility of further conflict and division within the party.
He stated, “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.“
Kyerematen announced his intention to run as an independent for president in the 2024 General Elections in light of these circumstances.
There has been a lot of discussion and speculation about the potential effects of his decision to leave the NPP on Ghana’s political climate.
The ongoing debates about Kyerematen leaving the party and running as an independent candidate gain more context from his criticism of the Finance Minister’s handling of the IMF deal.
Kyerematen’s choice to run as an independent candidate could change the political landscape and add new dynamics to the election campaign as Ghana gears up for the 2024 elections.
His criticism of the government’s strategy for requesting assistance from the IMF reflects broader discussions about monetary and economic policy in the nation.
