A former presidential aspirant of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, popularly known as Alan Cash, will address the media this afternoon to announce his next political plans.
Sources close to the former Trade and Industry Minister have whispered into the ears of The Chronicle that Alan Cash, during his address to the media in Accra today, may announce his bid to contest the 2024 presidential elections, but not on the ticket of an already existing political party.
According to the last update from our sources at the time of going to press last night, Alan Cash may declare to contest as an independent candidate or form a new political party.
The event’s flyer, titled “Alan Speaks,” inundated social media platforms over the weekend, though attendance is strictly by invitation.
This comes weeks after an earlier in-person arrangement was aborted. He had earlier planned to address the press on September 5, 2023 to announce his pull-out from the presidential primary, but later deferred.
ALLIANCE
Last week, news broke that Alan Cash would collaborate with Ivor Greenstreet to contest the 2024 elections.
Though this paper was reliably informed and the same was published that no such meeting had occurred between the two, The Chronicle is aware Mr. Greenstreet, who contested the 2020 election for the Convention People’s Party, is not vying again.
The Chronicle cannot confirm whether the press engagement today would touch on alliances ahead of the 2024 elections, if any.
IMPACT
Political analysts are not ruling out the negative impact of Alan’s declaration today on the NPP’s desire to break the eight.
Several of the political watchers predict that Alan may decrease the vote of the NPP in 2024, particularly among the floating voters, who may have a soft spot for the NPP and love Alan.
By virtue of his former portfolio as Trade and Industry Minister, he liaised and worked with several traders and trade unions, some of whom may follow his decision to contest next on his own.
The argument has been that regardless of his dwindling votes in the NPP, Alan Cash has won the hearts of the masses from the four corners of the party.
He is thus tipped to perform better at the general elections than the internal contest, which critics say favour the establishment candidate.
Meanwhile, The Chronicle has not forgotten that in the 2007 contest, Alan Kyerematen was said to be the establishment candidate, owing to his connections with then President Kufuor.
PULL-OUT
Days after justifying his inclusion in the NPP battle for five, Alan Kyerematen withdrew from the contest with a press statement, citing violence, as one of his agents was assaulted.
“In the light of the foregoing, I wish to confirm that I am honourably withdrawing from the process that will lead to the Presidential Primaries to be held on the 4th of November, 2023.
In the upcoming weeks, I will provide an indication of the role that I will play in politics in Ghana, after consultations with my family and other well-wishers, various stakeholders and interest groups,” the statement read in parts.
Announcing his resignation as the Minister for Trade and Industry and his decision to contest to lead the NPP, Alan Kyerematen mentioned ten points on which he would transform Ghana if he becomes president.
He titled it the ‘Great Transformational Plan’, which mostly focuses on industrial drive, citing the one district, one factory as the foundation. It is not clear whether he will stick with his plan or announce some modifications today.
Meanwhile, others argue that if he would campaign with his records as a minister under the current regime, then he is not immune from any vote of no confidence, should the voters decide so.
