I’m deepening NPP democratic credentials - Alan Kyerematen

His new slogan is  “Be NPP, Be Alan,’’ and he wants delegates of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to think Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen when they think about winning political power in 2016.

“From  the level of  dominating and winning almost seven regions out of 10, to winning two regions,’’ he argues that it is not correct doing the same thing all the time and expecting different results, and therefore is urging delegates to do things differently to secure different results in 2016.

The man Kyerematen, aka “Alan Cash”, is seeking the 2016 flag-bearer position of the NPP together with twice presidential candidate of the party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and MP for Asante Mampong, Mr Francis Addai-Nimoh. 

What Mr Kyerematen seeks to do is to put to test the much-touted democratic credentials of his party by not chickening out of the flag-bearer race even though the odds seem to be against him. This is the quality that is being lost on some members of the leading opposition party in the country, he suggests to his party faithful.

This principle has guided his two attempts at winning the confidence of the party to lead it to victory in the general elections in 2008 and 2012. By not conceding easily, Alan is only reminding the rank and file of  the party of the virtues of the party, which is perseverance in the face of odds.

Alan’s vision for NPP

Born in 1955 and married with two children, he is certain the NPP needs a new leader who would channel resources directly to party executives. “As a matter of fact,  I will not form or set up any rival campaign structure independent of the existing party organisation; my campaign will be managed by the executives of the party at all levels. Campaign resources must go directly to the party executives, including polling station executives; I will ensure, if elected flag bearer, that each constituency is financially sound by providing financial resources to establish a viable business venture of their choice to generate income to finance internal party activities,” Mr Kyerematen declares as his key message to delegates across the country.

His overriding desire is to do his best for society and humanity. More specifically, he had always wanted  a successful business and political life and to help improve his country and people.  

Track record

As far back as 1994, Mr Kyerematen was listed by the TIME Magazine as one of the hundred Global Leaders for the New Millennium alongside Bill Gates.

Back home, Mr Kyerematen designed and implemented the Presidential Special Initiative Projects (PSI) which had the theme “Putting people to work to create wealth’’.

PSI cassava project now supplies Ghana Breweries with raw materials for beer production in Ghana, and food grade starch to Neat  Foods products and Nestle as raw materials for some of their beverage products. 

Currently, he is pioneering the constituency Business Venture to support party members in the constituency to become financially stable, as well as introduce the paying of constituency executives some income so that they would not become a prey for poaching by other well-endowed opposition parties, as it has been happening during electioneering.

Background

He speaks fluent English and French and comes across as a visionary, charismatic, affable and dynamic person. Being God-fearing, he is very sympathetic to the plight of the ordinary Ghanaian. Alan has always demonstrated his ability to work with all manner of persons regardless of age, gender, ethnic or religious affiliation. 

Being former cabinet minister; US Ambassador; Regional Director of Enterprise Africa (UNDP);  Head of MDPI -  a UN Project; Corporate Executive UAC Ghana Ltd.; and Coordinator, African Trade Policy Centre of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and having occupied other positions give Mr Kyerematen vast working experiences that make him an exceptionally good candidate for the NPP Flag-bearer position.

Achievements

As Ambassador to the United States, he established the US-Ghana Economic Council to deepen economic relations and bilateral trade; negotiated the purchase of VALCO by the Ghana Government at a cost of $20m; implemented the first Investment Forum in the US to showcase the economic potential of each of the 10 regions of Ghana; negotiated Cosmos Energy's arrival in Ghana to discover oil; and negotiated the release of $547m from the US government through the Millennium Challenge Accounts (MCA) to alleviate poverty in Ghana, Kyerematen recalled.

He added: “I built an $8.5 million state-of-the-art factory to produce high-grade industrial starch from cassava for export.

The Ayensu Starch Factory has been bought by Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited (GGBL) this year, to produce beer for consumption.

I also constructed an enclave within the Tema Free Zone, for the manufacturing of garments for export; revived the Oil Palm industry in Ghana; expanded the Salt mining operations; implemented the District Industrialisation Programme, where at least, one medium-sized factory in each administrative district would be built; initiated the highly successful “National Friday Wear” programme; implemented the Distance Education programme to enable Ghanaian workers acquire higher degrees; facilitated the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which offers Ghana quota-free export of certain category of goods to the US market; and negotiated a $45 million loan facility with the World Bank to promote SME development in Ghana.

These among others were done during my tenure as a Minister of Trade, Industry, & PSI”.

Task ahead

“22 years between 1992 and 2014, there had been six General Elections granting NPP six clear opportunities  to win elections and form the government, but we were successful only on two occasions”, he analysed.

“What is even worse --- the misfortune of being in perpetual opposition has been treated as nothing more than a staging opportunity in self aggrandisement for the few who profit in self promotion and popularity at the expense of the election misfortunes of NPP”, - he stated.

There appears to be too little understanding of just how  far  down NPP has slipped in votes between 2008 and 2012. Mr John Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen  promises delegates to do things differently to secure different results and  encourages delegates to give him a chance to make things happen for the NPP in 2016.

He believes destiny beckons that he plays an important role with a more comprehensive and dynamic strategy to attract floating voters to vote for the NPP party in 2016.

God-willing, if given the nod to lead this party and country, I will be able to use my vast experience and skills to achieve the transformational agenda required to move the nation forward, he confidently believes.