The much-heralded ‘homecoming’ of former Trade Minister Alan Kyerematen turned out to be a disappointing snub as some key NPP stakeholders in the Ashanti Region failed to show up.
Alan, who is seeking to revive his flagbearership dream, had intended to use the homecoming to herald the support he commands, especially in the Ashanti Region, to galvanise more support across the country.
But the homecoming failed to galvanise the key support as key members of the party in the region shunned the event.
As Alan and his team headed to the the Manhyia Palace to call on the Asantehene, his team lacked the presence of heavyweights and party big wigs that ought to have been part of a campaign entourage for such a grand visit to the Asantehene.
Out of the 43 sitting MPs of the Ashanti Region, only 2 were present – MP for Subin Eugene Antwi and MP for Asokwa Patricia Appiagyei.
The situation was not different with former MPs and appointees of the New Patriotic Party in the region. Only 5 former MPs, 2 former DCEs and 3 former constituency executives were seen present.
Interestingly, none of the 47 sitting constituency chairmen and nearly 800 constituency executives of the party reportedly showed up.
Prior to Monday’s visit to Kumasi, a national thanksgiving service in Accra by Mr Kyerematne also failed to attract party gurus from various blocks of the NPP.
From the Parliamentary Caucus, only three sitting MPs out of the 137 attended. Ngleshi Amanfrom MP Sylvester Tetteh and Anyaa-Sowutuom MP Adomako Kusi and Mpraeso MP David Opoku Ansah in addition to former Attorney General Ayikoi Otoo were the one spotted.
Analysts have observed that the calibre of lightweight personnel leading Alan Kyerematen’s campaign indicates his waned popularity in the NPP.
On the front line of the Alan Campaign are defeated MPs Boniface Abubakar Saddique, formerly of Madina, Yaw Buaben Asamoah of Adenta, Catherine Afeku of Evalue Gwira and former General Secretary Nana Ohene Ntow, as well as Hopeson Adorye, who failed to the Kpone Katamanso seat in the 2020 elections as NPP Parliamentary Candidate .
Alan’s failure to attract influential and charismatic members of the NPP to lead his campaign, coupled with the increasing defection of his former allies to the camp of Vice President Bawumia, surely, would be a major cause for concern to Alan and his team.
