Alan Kyerematen, the leader of the newly formed political group, the Movement for Change, has addressed long-standing claims that former President John Kufuor played a pivotal role in his candidacy during the 2007 presidential primaries of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
In a recent interview Alan Kyerematen, who has resigned from the NPP to run as an independent presidential candidate in the 2024 elections, firmly rejected the notion that his candidacy was solely orchestrated by President Kufuor. He insisted that such claims were based on hearsay and inaccurate representations of the events that transpired during that period.
Kyerematen emphasized that during the 2007 presidential race, he was treated similarly to other aspirants by President Kufuor. He further elaborated on the interactions between him and the former president during that time.
“It is unfair to President Kufuor, for people to create the impression that because I was his favorite, he did all in his power to install me as his heir apparent. In 2005, all the people who eventually contested in the 2007 presidential primaries had started making their moves and operations. I had made up my mind at that time that I would contest.”
Kyerematen continued, “When I went to inform him [President Kufuor] that I had an interest and that my other colleagues had started making moves undercover, he told me to wait and do my work. He made it clear that if people felt I was the right person, they themselves would promote me.”
Kyerematen further recalled, “I went back three months later to tell him that people were openly campaigning, and I wanted to serve notice that I would be going forward. He said, ‘I cannot stop you, but I want to tell you that I will not support you. If there are people that I will support, it will be Nana Akufo-Addo, Aliu Mahama, Papa Owusu Ankomah, and then yourself. If any of you wins, I will be happy.'”
Alan Kyeremanten’s revelation comes at a time when he is charting an independent political path in preparation for the upcoming 2024 elections.