Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, a founding member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has expressed skepticism about the electoral prospects of former Minister Alan Kyerematen, who recently resigned from the party and announced his intention to contest as an independent presidential candidate in the 2024 elections.
Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe believes that Kyerematen will find it challenging to garner votes, except perhaps in the Ashanti Region, due to his perceived failure to address the needs of the youth during his seven years in government.
In an interview with TV3’s Evelyn Tengmaa, Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe emphasized that Kyerematen’s reliance on youth support might backfire as young voters may question what he achieved during his time in government and decide not to vote for him. He argued that Kyerematen’s resignation had come too late, and if he had done so earlier, he might have had a stronger standing and garnered more serious consideration from voters.
Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe also shared his views on the disunity within the NPP, blaming President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for allegedly positioning individuals to lead the party, which he believed had contributed to the internal divisions. He criticized the party’s leadership for failing to address Kyerematen’s concerns following the Super Delegates Conference, highlighting that they should have preempted his actions and communicated with him directly.
While acknowledging that Kyerematen’s decision to contest as an independent candidate would affect the NPP’s electoral chances, Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe believed that Kyerematen’s impact would likely be limited to the Ashanti Region. He expressed concerns that this move could deepen ethnocentric sentiments associated with the party.
Regarding the withdrawal of MPs and ministers who were previously aligned with Kyerematen, Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe suggested that their actions might be driven by pragmatic considerations, such as preserving their seats and political careers, rather than a genuine commitment to Kyerematen’s cause.
Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe’s insights provide valuable perspectives on the evolving political landscape in Ghana and the potential implications of Kyerematen’s independent candidacy on the NPP and the upcoming elections.