Feature: And Now … Resurrected United Party (Plus)

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Africanus Owusu Ansah (Hot Issues)

“Fight for the things that you care about. But do it in a way that will lead others to join you” – Ruth Bader Ginsburg

UNITED PARTY, has come into being – from the ashes of ‘Movement for Change’. The plethora of fake, money-grabbing prophets of Ghana could not foretell, but the signs were there… and we saw it (from the crystal ball).

On an episodic Thursday, October 16, 2025 the chrysalis had metamorphosed from pupa to an adult butterfly, Alan Kyerematen announced at the launch of the UP+ that the party was going to break the political duopoly and usher in a “golden age of business and prosperity.”

The chairman Boniface Abubakar Saddique, Hopeson Adorye, Lawyer Buabeng Asamoah, Solomon Owusu… were there.

Alan stated: “this new dawn will end the culture of winner takes all and bring economic transformation that translates into massive job opportunities … Some of our best minds have been sidelined because of the nature of our politics…”

He unveiled the party’s vision: Vision 2040: The Paradise Project “that seeks to make Ghana the economic powerhouse of Africa by 2040. The mission of the party, he added, is to build one united, peaceful, secure and prosperous country, in which every Ghanaian will have the chance to realize his full potential whether in carpentry, medicine or engineering with priority to the youth, women and the vulnerable in society.

UP+ is to be anchored on integrity, ethical leadership, discipline, meritocracy, and pledged to promote tolerance, patriotism, entrepreneurship, respect for the rule of law and encourage decent political discourse in the media space.

As a “Centre-Party” the party would bridge the ideological gap between the Centre – left National Democratic Congress and the Centre – right New Patriotic Party.

The “Great Transformational Plan” (GTP) detailing strategies for stabilizing the macro-economy, reducing national debt and promoting industrialization will position Ghana as “Africa’s new manufacturing hub by 2040.”

The UP+ intends to prioritize agriculture, education and health systems. There is a renewed commitment to Pan-Africanism, and the official colour is yellow. (Ghana’s wealth); Black (Black Star of Africa); White (Purity and ethical leadership).

Alan says: “the United Party is the future of our country.  It is 68 years (from October 13, 1957) that the United Party (U.P.) was formed from the National Liberation Movement (NLM) – Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia’s party, with the backing of Baffour-Akoto, Asantehene’s linguist; Tolon Naa, J. A. Braimah and Dombo-led Northern Peoples Party; Ga Shifimokpee (Ga Standfast Society) led by Attoh Quarshie, Ashie Nikoi and Dzenkle Dzewu, S. G. Antori Togoland Congress, (Northern Ewe); Akpaloo’s Anlo Youth Party (Southern Ewe); Bankole’s Muslim Association Party (MAP), after the Nkrumah’s  Avoidance of Discriminate act, 1957.

Heraclitus of Ephesus the weeping Greek Philosopher, in 530 BC noted: “Change is the only constant in life”. Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was invited from America to come and be the Secretary General to the United Gold Coast Convention in December 1947. In 1949, he had broken away from Paa Grant’s U.G.C.C. to form his own party, the Convention People’s Party (C.P.P.).

The ideological rift emerged with UGCC seeking “self-government in the shortest possible time” and the CPP insisting on “self-government now”. The Elitist UGCC sought self-government through a gradual, constitutional means, operating within the existing structures.

The down-to-earth C.P.P. used “positive action” the working class and the verandah boys” and ordinary farmers, mass demonstrations and boycotts to force the hand of imperialist Britain to grant Ghana’s independence.

Then came a series of events, including assassination attempts on Dr. Nkrumah, (Ametewee, Kulungu).

Victor Owusu, R.R. Amponsah, Joe Appiah resigned from CPP to join the U.P., just as J. H. Owusu Acheampong, A. A. Munufie, and Justice Annan dejected from U.P. to join the N.D.C.

The one-time NPP Chairman, Frederick Worsemao Blay, one-time first Deputy Speaker of Parliament and two-term CPP Member of Parliament for Ellembelle said in February 2014: “look, I am not a newcomer in NPP, I have fully registered as a member of the party. fully paid up one for that matter”. I joined the NPP… Today. I drink, speak, eat and think NPP… in politics, people can switch camps at any time.”

K.A. Gbedemah who fought and got Nkrumah elected to the Legislative Council in February 1951 and became the first to welcome Nkrumah on his release from James Fort Prison, became the Finance Minister (helped in building the Akosombo Dam) his relationship with Nkrumah was worsening and he contemplated Nkrumah’s overthrow, saying: “I would be sorry to have to do it but this country has had enough of Nkrumah’s arrogance, whims and madness”. After the 1966 coup, he formed and led the National Alliance of Liberal (NAL) unto the 1969 general election.

He later flirted with people like General Afrifa, R. R. Amponsah, Prof. Adu Boahen, Akufo-Addo becoming leader of the Peoples Movement for Freedom and Justice.

Dr. Omane Boamah, member of NPP TESCON; Sam George working for NPP Vice President Aliu Mahama… OR Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, wife of the founder of NDC Flt. Lt. J.J. Rawlings breaking away from the NDC after the Sunyani Congress where she challenged the incumbent, John Fiifi Atta Mills, and losing, went on to form the National Democratic Party (NDP) in 2012 and held its First National Congress at Baba Yara Sports Stadium Kumasi on October 13, 2012.

Remember the speech in which Rawlings stated that his “former party” had “lost the moral high ground” and promised a “proper revolution”!

Yaw Buabeng Asamoah says “UP will come to power” but does not state when” 2028? 2032? 2036? …. and Solomon Owusu reveals a chilling: “Akufo-Addo hated Alan so much” …! The UP members, most of whom are from NPP reveal what they detest about NPP: arrogance; electing executive members in the night, corruption (you would not believe the NPP would steal even a pesewa of the nation’s wealth, but hear the revelations…); the fear in the well-documented “Agyapadie” …In spite of our tremendous contribution to this  Ghana entity, Okyeman has not been credited with the appropriate awe and grandeur that we rightly deserve in recent times.

“Currently, with Nana in total control of the whole entity of Ghana, we have a duty to ensure that we take over the commanding heights of the essential fabric of the country, in order that even in the event  Nana leaves the scene after the mandatory eight years, the sons and daughters of Okyeman would be firmly secured and such control, both financially and economically, that we can no longer be ignored in the battle to control the destiny of Ghana…

“Although the Asante group within the current NPP is gearing itself to take over the party after Nana’s tenure in 2024. With hard work, we could work to pass the mantle over to a non-Akan person, preferably from the North, under whose Presidency we could secure the maturity of our take-over project…” we cannot confirm the author nor even the origin of this document, but Dr. Joshua Zaato (a Lecturer at The University Of Ghana’s Political Science Department) discrediting of the UP’s  significance, argues the ultimate objective of this party is not a win power,

This is a party that was conceived by the hatred and dislike of Bawumia, not by any political ideology, when you leave your main political party, you go somewhere you perish because people see you as selfish, greedy and unprincipled….this new UP will have zero and an infinitesimal impact on the NDC-NPP duopoly….. A lecturer in Political science speaking like this …….? We wish we had not studied Political Science.

The interim Chairman, Boniface Abubakar thinks: “we are not going to be a seasonal party. The third force you’ve been seeing were seasonal parties, and they were not visible on the ground…”.

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