‘Na Alan Kyerematen no, ɔyɛ last born anaa? Akoa no tirim yɛ nu dɛ too much’…
‘Is Alan Kyerematen a lastborn? He is like a pampered, spoilt child. He is unpresidential and immature’…..
These and many more are the immediate reactions of some social media users in expressing disgust after then NPP presidential aspirant Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen announced his divorce from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Monday, September 25.
For many political connoisseurs, this is the true colours of Alan Kyerematen, aka ‘Alan Cash’, a disloyal politician who turns his back on the party at the slightest pinch.
The late former National Chairman of the NPP, B.J. da Rocha, would be turning in his grave and telling the NPP hierarchy, ‘Give me my stone, I told you so’.
B.J. da Rocha has been proven right 15 years after expressing reservations and penning question marks about Mr. Alan Kyerematen.
On Friday, April 25, 2008, he said the NPP was better off without Mr Kyerematen.
“It is my considered view that it will not be in the best interest of the NPP to receive Mr. Alan Kyerematen back into the party’s fold. He will become a disruptive factor in the party, a stumbling block, a loose cannon. The party has an election to win. We should concentrate our efforts on the task ahead and let him go his way in peace,” he said.
This was when Mr. Kyerematen quit the NPP for the first time.
He didn’t disappoint by repeating his old ways on Monday.
Here are six observations about Mr. Kyerematen that raise red flags about his leadership and presidential ambitions.
• He is very good at running away and reappearing when it’s all rosy
For several ardent members of the NPP, Mr. Kyerematen stands at the back of many leaders in sacrifice, hard work and heavy lifting for the party.
To them, he is not a grass-root participant and hardly seen during attempts to canvass votes but one of the first to be given prominent positions when the party wins power.
He was a cabinet minister responsible for Trade, Industry and the President’s Special Initiatives (PSI), with additional responsibility for Private Sector Development (PSD) under former President John Agyekum Kufuor’s government.
When the NPP won the elections again in 2016, he was appointed Minister of Trade and Industry until his resignation in 2023 to pursue his political ambitions.
• Immature
Many analysts have called out Mr Kyerematen over his handling of issues within the party. In 2008, when Mr. Kyerematen resigned from the party, former chairman B.J. da Rocha stated that the complaints of Mr. Kyerematen were not grave or so earth-shaking to result in resignation.
For him, the concerns by Mr. Kyerematen were “like flea bites compared with what many loyal members have suffered and endured in the past without contemplating to leave the party”.
The NPP said they had constituted a committee and launched a probe into concerns about unfair treatment and intimidation during the recent primaries in August 2023.
Hence, the expectation was not an exit by Mr. Kyerematen.
• Bitter loser
According to some NPP members, Mr Kyerematen does not take failure or defeat kindly.
Deep throat sources within the NPP say it takes a great deal of effort by leadership to convince him to accept results.
They believe Mr. Kyerematen’s ambition of becoming president drives him to achieve that goal at all costs.
The party argues that flagbearership is decided through a democratic process, unlike personal property passed on as inheritance to the next person.
Hence, all members should accept and rally behind individuals given the nod through democratic processes.
• Then we must all fail attitude
The goal of leading the party as flagbearer and ultimately the president of Ghana seems to be a must for Mr. Kyerematen, many believe.
Consequently, party faithfuls hold the view that Mr Kyeramaten does not support others, leading to factions within the party when he does not get a favourable push for his agenda.
For him, if he fails, the party must fail, hence the breakaways anytime a candidate receives overwhelming endorsements ahead of him.
• He has lost clout within the party
For many analysts, Mr. Kyerematen’s influence within the party has taken a nosedive.
At the recent Super Delegates’ Congress of the NPP in August 2023 to scale down the number of presidential aspirants of the party, Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia had the biggest endorsement, securing 629 votes, representing 68.15 per cent, while the MP for Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong had 132 votes, representing 14.30 per cent. Mr Kyerematen secured a paltry 95 votes, which represents 10.29 per cent.
Even though he lost to Mr. Agyapong, Mr. Kyerematen appears delusional in his heightened sense of importance and popularity within the party.
He obviously least expected to be the beneficiary of the “Ken Agyapong showdown” after he beat him to humility.
With very little support, it would be an arduous task to overcome his competitors who have gained a firm hold on the primaries to determine the successor of President Nana Akufo-Addo.
• He is missing when the going gets tough
For a politician who has been a member of the NPP since its inception, more is expected of him to bring his knowledge and experience to bear.
However, party members suggest that Alan has never been around to provide the needed leadership anytime the going got tough.
In opposition or government, Mr. Kyeramaten is hardly seen marshalling resources or efforts to raise the party’s flag high.
However, he coils into his shell anytime outcomes do not go his way like a sore loser or spoilt child.