The former Minister for Trade and Industry, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, yesterday officially joined the race to contest in the November presidential primary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The nomination form was picked on his behalf by a group of market queens from the Ashanti and Greater Accra Regions, who on their own volition, embarked on that journey for him.
The group members, numbering about 30, were dressed in beautiful traditional cloths and regalia to depict their status as queens.
They introduced themselves as leaders of the various traders’ associations in the Kumasi Central Market, as well as in Accra and Tema Markets.
The group said they were made up of tomato sellers, fish sellers, pepper sellers, onion sellers, and a host of other items sold at the markets.
Speaking at the headquarters of the ruling New Patriotic Party, the leader of the group, Madam Comfort Serwaa, who is the President of the Tomatoes Sellers Association said they had contributed money to pay for the cost of the form.
Explaining what motivated them, she said the personality of Alan Kyerematen, coupled with his trading prowess, convinced them that he was the right person to take over the seat as the next president of Ghana.
According to her, “when the central market went up in flames, Alan came to console us and encourage us. Periodically, he will come to advise us on how to trade and invest our monies, and this has helped us a lot in our business.”
She said the market and the majority of them want Alan Kyerematen as the next president of Ghana.
“So, we want to tell all the other delegates to listen to the cry of Ghanaians and vote for Alan Kyerematen to lead the NPP and become the next president of Ghana,” she said.
PROMISE
Former General Secretary of the NPP, Nana Ohene Ntow, who introduced the group to the party executives at the head office, said the market queens had promised Alan that they would pick up the form for him.
He continued that, “true to their words, they took the step when the party opened the nomination and we had to lead them here.”
CLEAN CAMPAIGN
The Director of Election and Research, Evans Nimako and the Director of Finance were available to receive the banker’s draft after which they gave the market queens a receipt, as well as the nomination forms.
Prior to that, he asked for an authorisation letter from Alan, which the group produced in earnest, confirming that they had the green light from the man nicknamed ‘Alan Cash’.
The group was also led by former Attorney General, Ayikoi Otoo and former Members of Parliament for Madina and Adentan, Boniface Abubarkar and Buaben Asamoa respectively.
Mr. Nimakoadvised the group to relay to their preferred aspirant to run “a clean campaign with the future of the party at heart.”
He reminded them that the main goal was 2024, making it imperative for them to ensure that they went through the internal process peacefully, especially as they would need the party to forge ahead in the future.
Mr. Nimako advised themto rather resort to the party to address any issues that may arise during their campaign, in order to solidify unity ahead of 2024.
