Akufo-Addo is passionate about industrialization but I wanted an extensive blueprint on transformation – Alan

Former Trade Minister Alan Kyerematen has said that his immediate past boss, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is passionate about industrialisation and value-addition.

Mr Kyerematen believes that the New Patriotic Party government has done a lot in terms of industrialisation but he wanted an extensive blueprint of economic transformation.

“The president is passionate about industrialization and value addition but I wanted an extensive blueprint of transformation,” he said.

Alan Kyerematen jabbed the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and asked why they are seeking to return to power when they have not been able to outline even one policy to help the country.

He said that he has not heard the NDC propose even one policy but are always preaching a comeback to power.

“I have not heard not even one policy, how do you bring back NDC, to do what?” he said.

Although he has resigned from the NPP to contest as an independent presidential candidate, he said the NPP has “done a lot, but we have serious challenges with the economy.”

Mr Kyerematen further said he wished to use the NPP as the vehicle to project and implement his vision for the country as president but he had to leave the party because of troubles.

He stated that he had been a strategic politician all these years and wanted the NPP to benefit from his ideas as the president of Ghana.

But at the moment, he said, he has to go directly to Ghanaians as an independent candidate to sell his vision to them.

“I have been very strategic about how I have positioned myself over the years,” he said.

“I would have wished to use the party but for various reasons, I have decided that I will go directly to the people of Ghana,” he added.

Mr Kyerematen who placed third in the super delegates conference of the NPP on August 26 announced his resignation from the party on Monday, September 25 to enable him to contest for the office of president as an independent presidential candidate in the 2024 elections.

This made it the second time he resigned from the NPP after he first did so in 2007 but later returned.

Mr Kyerematen said that he had come to the realisation that his contributions were no longer needed in the party hence his resignation.

He said this followed the harsh treatment meted out to his supporters by the party.

“Persons associated with me are treated with disdain and outright outcast,” Mr Kyerematen who placed third in the super delegates conference of the NPP held on August 26 said.

He accused the leadership of the NPP of skewing the internal elections in favour of one particular aspirant.