Alan Kyerematen has rebuffed claims that former President John Kufuor orchestrated his candidacy during the 2007 presidential primaries of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
In an interview with Bernard Avle on Citi TV’s “The Point of View,” Kyerematen, who recently resigned from the NPP to run as an independent presidential candidate in the 2024 elections, dismissed assertions that his candidacy was solely a result of Kufuor’s influence, asserting that such claims were inaccurate and based on hearsay.
Kyerematen emphasized that during the 2007 race, he was treated similarly to other aspirants by President Kufuor.
He stated, “It is unfair to President Kufour for people to create the impression that because I was his favourite, he did all in his power to install me as his heir apparent.”
“In 2005, all the people who eventually contested the 2007 presidential primaries had started making underground moves and operations. I had already decided to contest.”
He continued, “When I went to inform him that I had an interest and that my other colleagues had started covertly campaigning, he told me to wait and do my work. He said that if people believed I was the right person, they themselves would promote me.”
Kyerematen further revealed, “I went back three months later to tell him that people were openly campaigning, and I wanted to serve him notice that I would be running. He responded by saying, ‘I cannot stop you, but I want to tell you that I will not support you. If there are people I will support, it will be Nana Akufo-Addo, Aliu Mahama, Papa Owusu Ankomah, and then yourself. If any of you wins, I will be happy.'”
