Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah says Alan Kyerematen's decision to contest the 2024 elections will amount to nothing.
To him, to think that Alan will win the elections as an independent candidate is impossible.
"Like it or not, in Ghana, there are only three political parties; NPP, NDC and the rest," he commented on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show while discussing Alan Kyerematen's public declaration at a press conference on Monday, September 25 at the Movenpick Hotel in Accra.
Alan Kyerematen ended his relationship with the New Patriotic Party(NPP), stating; "I am honourably resigning with immediate effect from the NPP to contest for the high office of the President of the Republic of Ghana as an independent presidential candidate."
He revealed his new movement dubbed “Movement for Change” with the motto “Ghana Will Rise Again”.
"The brand logo for the MOVEMENT is the Monarch Butterfly, which politically symbolizes change and transformation, hope, and positivity. It also communicates strength, endurance, spirituality, and trust, which are key traits that I cherish as a Political Leader. In Akan, it is known as Afrafranto," he intimated.
But to Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah, Alan's move is aimed at spoiling the New Patriotic Party's chance of winning next year's election, however, he noted the party can exploit Alan's decision to their advantage.
"We wish him well though he will not win. That one, I don't need any Prophet to tell me; he won't win but he knows why he wants to independently contest," he stated.
He also slammed Alan Kyerematen for speaking against the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration.
"If you are able to attack this government for which you were a part, then you are not being truthful. You are being disingenuous," Dr. Otchere-Ankrah replied.
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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You see, when the political dynamic changes, it becomes very important for you to strategise to achieve your political goals and ambitions. In multi-party democracy, the emphasis is on competition, competence and hard work. Let me make a disection here just to make certain attributes of keen competitors who are both in the same party: hard work, competence and trustworthiness are their credentials. But it happens that one of them is vice-president at a given time, the other a cabinet minister, and both believe in modernity in terms of the technology of the time. Nevertheless, they both want to lead their beloved party to the presidency. It seems that, among other things, the fact that one is a vice-president gives him an advantage over the other in the party's internal electoral arrangements for the flagbearer race. What would you say if you were advising the relevant cabinet minister? Incidentally, I would have advised them to join forces by switching positions, so to speak, if they were to win the presidential election and form a new government, so that the vice-president would become president and the cabinet minister his vice-president. And I bet that their party, as hardworking and competent as they are, would have a chance of winning subsequent elections. by then the good policies, 1D1F and others might have matured. Eventually, they will both be presidents of Ghana. Enough said.
If people in a party maltreat you, what do you do? You go to court or beat them up. NPP must be more professional, more tolerant, and lead to its creed of rule of law, due process, good governance, development in freedom, probity and accountability, freedom of speech, economic and technical progress espoused by Prof. Adu-Boahen and so on. NPP made a big mistake by not holding a televised debate for the ordinary man on the street to assess the candidates. There wasn't even any manifesto reading. Regarding the decentralisation of the elections, I think the party got it right. Why should all delegates travel to the great hall of Legon to elect a flag bearer when they can vote at their constituencies.
I fear for Ghana's democracy looking at events as they unfold. From 2008 up to January,2017 many were of the belief was that if there is any politician in this country who can bring back the trust and confidence Ghanaians need to have in the political class it was no other person than Nana Akuffo Addo considering what we all heard about him. We queued at dawn by sacrificing our sleep to vote massively for him in 2016 with an emphatic 53.7% to win the presidential elections. He comes to power and it's like he's a direct opposite of what we thought him to be. Ministers, MMDCEs, CEO's are operating like there is nobody in control. You can't just believe some of the things you hear. People who sticked their necks out and fought for this man in the trenches are all done spirited now. I know there are quite a sizable number of appointees in government who are equally not happy with Akuffo Addo's laiser faire style of leadership but can't talk because of what they are also grabbing. The NPP we saw from 2001-2008 under Kufuor is a direct opposite of this current NPP . I wish Akuffo Addo listens to what Dr Nyaho Tamakloe said prior to the 2016 elections. Hear him " Ghanaians will learn a bitter lesson of leadership if he wins " . I know Dr Nyaho Tamakloe will be saying now " I told you so ". From every indication he has been vindicated. From the elderly, to women, to youth, the Disabled, the vulnerable, the underprivileged, contractors, businesses, nobody is laughing. If you are a leader and the people you lead are not becoming better versions of themselves, then you are not leading people, you are using them for your selfish interests. It's sad
So if you are part of a government, and the management of the economy is bad, you cannot talk about it. Is like you can not criticize from within, is that what Ghana needs? Is it not obvious to people how decayed the NPP has become under Akuffo Addo's leadership? How a party of self-made honourable men and women, patriotic to serve and develop their country has turned into the most corrupt government Ghana has ever witnessed? You bankrupt a country, deny people of their own investments and savings, and you think the little remaining men/women with integrity in the NPP should keep quiet. Ask any Ghanaian about Ghana today vs under John Mahama? Alan has done well by going independent. Ghanaian youth must rise up and support a third force in our political landscape. This crop of NPP and NDC, does not care about Ghanaians. They care about stealing to enrich themselves, family, girlfriends etc. and yet the suffering Ghanaian will fight for them, because they shower them with peanuts from the very resources they have stolen from the ordinary Ghanaian. It is a shame, Ghana and Ghanaians deserve committed and leadership with integrity!