Alan Kyeremanten Withdraws from NPP Presidential Race Citing Election Irregularities

Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, a prominent contender for the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) flagbearer position, has officially withdrawn from the race, setting the stage for a pivotal turn of events within the party’s political landscape.

Kyerematen’s announcement, conveyed through a statement dated September 5, 2023, cited concerns about the integrity of the election process and incidents of intimidation.

In his statement, Kyerematen expressed his decision to “honourably withdraw from the process” that would culminate in the Presidential Primaries scheduled for November 4, 2023. He also indicated his intention to define his future role in Ghanaian politics after consultations with family, well-wishers, stakeholders, and interest groups in the coming weeks.

Kyerematen, who secured the third position in the NPP’s special delegates conference held on August 26, 2023, disclosed his reasons for bowing out of the race. He voiced deep concerns about the levels of intimidation that delegates faced at various voting centers across all sixteen regions of Ghana, labeling them as “unprecedented in the history of our Party.”

Kyerematen further shared a distressing incident involving his Polling Agent in the North East region, who sustained severe eye injuries while ensuring compliance with the election rules and regulations approved by the Presidential Elections Committee. This incident, along with reports of violence and collusion in other Voting Centers, left Kyerematen appalled and determined to prioritize the safety of those who work with and for him.

Additionally, Kyerematen hinted at the perception that the race appeared to be deliberately skewed in favor of a particular candidate, though he refrained from naming that candidate. He alluded to “pronouncements made by some leading members of our party, both before and after the elections,” which seemed to support his observations.

In a message of goodwill to the remaining aspirants, Kyerematen stated, “I wish all the other Aspirants well as they continue on their journey.” He also expressed profound gratitude to his family, the Alan 4 President (A4P) Campaign Team, and his supporters in Ghana and across the globe, assuring them that the “battle is still the Lord’s.”

With Kyerematen’s withdrawal, the NPP’s flagbearer race now includes four remaining candidates: Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong, former Agric Minister Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, and former MP for Mampong Francis Addai-Nimoh. The balloting to determine the party’s flagbearer is scheduled for September 6.

Notably, on August 31, Boakye Agyarko refrained from the run-off election, which was organized to break the tie between himself and another flagbearer hopeful, Francis Addai-Nimoh. Agyarko expressed strong reservations about the new process, which he believed violated the party’s constitution, and chose not to participate in the contest.

Read Mr Kyerematen’s full statement below:

On Sunday, the 27th of August 2023, I issued a public statement which made reference to the selection and shortlisting of Presidential Aspirants by the Special Electoral College convened by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on the 26th of August 2023.

After having carefully analysed the results of the said elections, it is absolutely clear to me from events leading to, during and after the elections, that the Special Delegates Conference was strategically and tactically skewed in favour of one particular Aspirant.

The pronouncements made by some leading Members of our Party both before and after the elections, also lend weight to my observations.

The level of intimidation of varying intensity, directly and indirectly unleashed on a significant number of delegates at various voting centres across the sixteen regions, is unprecedented in the history of our party.

In addition, the fact that my polling agent in the North East region has suffered severe damage to his eyesight, arising from his bold and courageous effort to ensure compliance with the very rules and regulations for the conduct of the elections as approved by the Presidential Elections Committee, will forever remain a dark spot in the history of internal elections within the party. This incident and various acts of violence and collusion, reported in other voting centres, are appalling, unconscionable, and despicable.

I am committed to, and value the safety of those who work with me and for me, and I will always fight for their interest.

The question I keep asking myself is, “How did we get here as a party in the first place, and how far are we prepared to tread on this dangerous path to self-destruction?”

Regrettably, I am not convinced that the circumstances I have referred to earlier, will not persist or even be escalated in the next round of elections, for which balloting is scheduled for Wednesday, 6th of September 2023.

In light of the foregoing, I wish to confirm that I am honourably withdrawing from the process that will lead to the Presidential Primaries to be held on the 4th of November 2023. In the next upcoming weeks, I will provide an indication of the role that I will play in politics in Ghana, after consultations with my family and other well-wishers, various stakeholders and interest groups.

I wish all the other Aspirants well as they continue on their journey. I also wish to use this opportunity to express my profound gratitude once again to my family, the Alan 4 President (A4P) Campaign Team, and all my teeming supporters in Ghana and from around the world, who have supported me in diverse ways over the years. Please be assured that the battle is still the Lord’s, and that those who wait upon the Lord shall have their strength renewed.

God bless our homeland Ghana and make our nation great and strong!

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