Chief Alan K. Kyereman, C.O.O of Aduru Wuso walkers
As the NPP flagbearership race heats up and the party gears up to open nominations next week, Alan Kyerematen, a serial contester, will be confronted with his past statements as he campaigns for support.
Alan Kyerematen suffered an excruciating defeat in the NPP’s 2010 primaries, with Nana Addo Akufo-Addo securing close to 80% of the votes, leaving Alan significantly behind. Interestingly, prior to that election, Alan campaigned against then-aspiring Akufo-Addo’s campaign of ‘Yenim no firi tete’
Mr Kyerematen strongly opposed the notion of NPP delegates rewarding long service, which was labelled at the time as ‘Yenim no firi tete.
At the time, he highlighted his youthfulness and his ‘fante’ background to back his suitability.
Thirteen years later, Alan and his campaign team had undergone a significant transformation in their approach. They adopted a new slogan, ‘Aduru Woso,’ which was a paraphrase of Akufo-Addo’s famous phrase ‘Yenim no firi tete,’ meaning ‘it’s his Alan turn.’ Little did they realize that this slogan would ultimately backfire and become a strategic weapon used against Alan’s pursuit of the party’s flagbearership.
In recent days, online reports have circulated, highlighting the former Trade Minister’s counsel to NPP delegates. He emphasized the importance of prioritizing the selection of a candidate capable of winning the presidential election, rather than placing undue emphasis on individuals with prolonged tenures in power, with implicit reference to Nana Akufo-Addo. It is noteworthy that he emphasized his own qualifications and suitability for the position.
A notable online link that gained viral attention includes a 2010 report initially published on myjoyonline.com and subsequently reproduced on Modern Ghana’s platform.
According to a 2010 article titled “Alan: NPP race, not a queue, we want a ‘president’,” Alan Kyerematen conveyed his perspective in an interview with Ekosii Sen on Asempa FM. He appealed to NPP delegates, advising them against selecting a flagbearer solely based on their longstanding presence within the party. Alan emphasized that the NPP race should not be perceived as a mere queue. Instead, he urged delegates to support a candidate with the capability to secure victory in the national election and become the president.
Looking ahead to 2024, the Alan Campaign has adopted a campaign strategy focused on longevity, prominently featuring the theme of “Aduru Woso.” Interestingly, this approach contradicts Alan’s 2010 principle of advocating for the party to reject the “Aduru Me So” mantra.
Predictably, this has led to many utilizing Alan’s previous statements against him and invoking his earlier principle as the campaign intensifies.
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