Ben
In his quest to resurrect the NPP flagbearership dream, former Trade Minister Alan Kyerematen appears to be walking in isolation.
After resigning as minister for trade and industry at the beginning of the year, Kyerematen has been busy with campaign events.
He began by addressing a press conference in Accra in which he announced his ambition while also criticizing the government he served in for six years and distanced himself from it.
It appears that Alan’s first campaign step following his resignation has compounded his already tight situation by incentivizing the NPP rank and file, which has had a telling effect on his campaign.
Over the last few days, Alan has held two events; ‘homecoming’ in Kumasi and a Thanksgiving service in Accra.
Nevertheless, Alan and his team had serious concerns regarding the two planned major events.
In both events, key figures from key blocks of the NPP party were conspicuously absent. This includes Parliamentarians, Ministers, former appointees, elders, and leaders at the regional and constituency levels.
It would have been expected that key individuals from the aforementioned caucus would have been present at an event of this kind by someone seeking to lead the NPP. In both Accra and Kumasi, such support was completely missing, which would have sent an important message to grassroots members.
Ayikoi Otoo, former Attorney General and Ambassador to Canada, was the only party heavyweight in Accra to attend the Thanksgiving service.
One MP from the Eastern Region, Mpraeso MP David Opoku Ansah, was the only MP from the Parliamentary Caucus. Mr. Tetteh and Mr. Kusi come from Ngleshi Amanfrom and Anyaa-Sowutuom, respectively.
In any case, these faces cannot be described as heavyweights of the Parliamentary Caucus, which is composed of 137 members.
In Kumasi for the homecoming the following day, Alan’s disturbing situation did not improve. NPP gurus, especially those from the Ashanti Region, did not attend the national Thanksgiving service in Accra either.
In addition to key MPs, party executives, former executives, and appointees, many heavyweights of the party were conspicuously absent during his visit to the Asantehene.
The Ashanti Region is represented by 43 MPs, but only two were present; Subin and Asokwa.
Five former MPs, two DCEs and three former constituency executives were among the former NPP appointees present at the event.
It was noteworthy that none of the 47 sitting constituency chairmen and nearly 800 constituency executives attended the meeting.
In the NPP, analysts have noted that Alan Kyerematen’s popularity is waning due to the quality of staff leading his campaign.
Former Madina and Adenta MPs Boniface Abubakar Saddique and Yaw Buaben Asamoah, who were defeated in the 2020 elections, along with Nana Ohene Ntow and Hopeson Adorye, failed to make any significant impact as NPP Parliamentary candidates in Kpone Katamanso.
With the increasing defection of his former allies to the camp of Vice President Bawumia and Alan’s failure to attract influential and charismatic members of the NPP, there must be major concerns for Alan and his team.
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Source: Omanghana.com/SP
