The Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan Kwadwo Kyeremanten, has made a wildly needless and strategic error in the NPP flagbearership race after throwing his support behind his prominent surrogate Hopeson Adorye’s tribalistic comments.
Alan ‘Cash’ finally released a much-anticipated statement to give his reaction to the comments which have been trending the past several days and it ended up being a weak statement doing nothing but throwing up big words hoping to confuse the reader.
Rather than doing the right thing and condemning Hopeson Adorye’s conduct, Alan subtly confirmed his belief that he deserves the flagbearership as a ‘Busia’, and that ‘Dombos’ are good for nothing but running mate positions!
In our humble opinion, that is a strategic error he might never recover from.
Hopeson’s comments were needlessly inflammatory and tribalistic and fuelled much of the criticism from other parties directed at the NPP for being a ‘tribal’ party.
Alan Kyeremanten, being a leader and statesman, could have shut down a lot of critics by behaving maturely.
He could have, like Nana Akomea did, rubbished the claim and insisted that the NPP chooses leaders based on merit and definitely not on their lineage.
However, a desperate need to grab power blinded Alan, leading him to release a statement that tacitly endorsed Adorye’s stance and simultaneously, tarnished his image forever.
Alan’s Statement
Press Statement by Hon. Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen
I stand for Unity!
My attention has been drawn to disturbing headlines and discussions in the media, in respect of comments made by Mr. Hopeson Adorye, after a peaceful health walk organized by individuals from all walks of life, in particular sympathizers of our great Party NPP, in the city of Kumasi on 13th August, 2022.
I understand, with great concern, that the unintended consequences of these comments, have generated strong reactions from different sections of the Ghanaian public, with the potential of creating divisions within the rank and file of our Party, at a crucial time in its history.
The New Patriotic Party has always stood for unity, peace and progress for every Ghanaian. Without a doubt, these are the very same virtues that I have worked tirelessly to uphold, in my years of service to Ghana and to the NPP.
It is a fact that the peaceful health walk was independently organized, and joined by thousands of well-meaning Ghanaian citizens across Kumasi, to express their passion for the NPP, in addition to their genuine support for what I have come to represent in the Party, through years of dedicated service. Much as I do appreciate this show of support, I would like to strongly caution against any acts or omissions of any individuals or groups of individuals that may disturb the peace and harmony in our party.
It is important that we all fight what seems to be emerging as a dangerous trend in our body politic in Ghana, of using misinformation and propaganda in instigating disunity along ethnic, religious and political lines.
I passionately believe that it is impossible or inappropriate, to diminish or distort the fundamental contributions and stature of any of the founding fathers of the NPP tradition, and I encourage Party faithfuls to focus on this indisputable fact. Indeed, it is the dedicated service of all the celebrated as well as unsung heroes and heroines of our great Party, that has, and continues to give life to the NPP, till this day. To borrow a leaf from the school ode of my Alma mater, Adisadel College, “Others have laboured, and we share their glory. Ours is to do exploits and add to their gain. Those who come after will take up our story.”
I encourage Party faithfuls to be vigilant and consistent in protecting this cherished unity, that has made our great party a beacon of hope to the people of Ghana, over the past 30 years.
Let us all pull together, and focus on the task of emerging victorious, in the challenging times we are faced with today as a country.
I stand for Unity!
Long live the NPP and long live Ghana!
Thank you.
Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen
Hopeson’s Gaffe
Former Member of Parliament candidate for the NPP in the Kpone-Katamanso constituency and leading surrogate for Alan Kyeremanten, Hopeson Adorye, shocked Ghanaians after comments denigrating Northerners in the NPP.
Speaking during the ‘Aduro Wo So’ Health Walk organised by supporters of Alan Kyeremanten, Adorye sought to make Kyeremanten’s case for the flagbearership by claiming it’s his turn as a ‘Busia’ since the current NPP leader is a ‘Danquah’.
Adorye disturbingly added that the ‘Dombos’ are only good for being running mates in a bid to undercut the candidacy of brilliant Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.
“There is one thing I am going to say. The NPP has a tradition. Our tradition is Busia, Danquah and Dombo. Dankwa represents Eastern Region and the bottom (south), Danquah represents Ashanti Region and the Bono areas, while Dombo represents Northern Region,” Hopeson Adorye said.
He continued: “Whenever a Dankwa leads the party, the Busia side step aside but there is a Dombo (for running mate), and whenever a Busia lead, the Dankwa side step aside but there is a Dombo (for running mate). As for the Dombos they are always there (for running mate).”
Adorye concluded: “In 1992, Albert Adu Boahen, who represented Dankwa contested with a Dombo. In 1996, we had the Great Alliance bit in 2000, it came to Kufuor, who is a Busia, and he ran with a Dombo (as his running mate). Then after Kufuor, it moved back to Dankwa, with President Akufo-Addo. He also contested the election with another Dombo (as his running mate), who is Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia. If it went to Dankwa, came to Busia, went back to Dankwa, where should it go now, is it not Busia?”
Source: theGhanaianVoice.Com
