Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, the Ashanti Region Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has issued a directive to all constituency chairmen in the region to remove all posters of former NPP member Alan Kyerematen from their offices.
This move follows Kyerematen’s announcement of his resignation from the NPP and his decision to contest the 2024 elections as an independent candidate.
In a memo dated Monday, September 25, 2023, Mr. Antwi-Boasiako instructed that “all his posters, banners, flyers, and paraphernalia at our party offices in all the constituencies must be removed with immediate effect.” The Ashanti Region is considered the stronghold of the NPP and is also the region from which Kyerematen hails.
Alan Kyerematen, in his resignation announcement, sought to reassure NPP members that his decision would not harm the party. He stated that his independent candidacy was aimed at providing an opportunity for the NPP to participate in a government of national unity in the future, rather than risking going into opposition with no electoral gains in the 2024 elections.
However, political analyst Professor Kobby Mensah emphasized that Kyerematen’s independent candidacy could pose a significant challenge to the NPP in the Ashanti Region, where he has a strong following. Professor Mensah noted that intense campaigning in the region could potentially chip away at the NPP’s vote share, making it more challenging for the party to secure the 75 percent and above majority needed to win elections.
The directive to remove Kyerematen’s posters from NPP offices underscores the party’s efforts to distance itself from the former member and prepare for a competitive political landscape in the Ashanti Region in the upcoming elections.
