Former Trade and Industry Minister, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen believes the just ended Super Delegates Conference of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was not free and fair.
According to him, the exercise was tactically and strategically skewed in favour of a particular candidate.
This, he said, was evident in utterances by some leading members of the party before and after the conference.
“After having carefully analysed the results of the said elections, it is absolutely clear to me from events leading to, during and after the elections, that the Special Delegates Conference was strategically and tactically skewed in favour of one particular Aspirant”.
He continued, “The pronouncements made by some leading Members of our Party both before and after the elections, also lend weight to my observations”.
Mr. Kyerematen made this allegation in a statement announcing his withdrawal from the flagbearer contest.
He cited intimidation of delegates, attack on his polling agent in the North East Region and collusion at the various voting centres in the September 26 exercise as reasons for his decision to back down.
While condemning the incidents of violence that occurred during the conference, Mr. Kyerematen said he could not be certain that such incidents will not reoccur in the main primary hence, his resolve to withdraw from the race.
“I wish to confirm that I am honourably withdrawing from the process that will lead to the Presidential Primaries to be held on the 4th of November 2023,” he stated.
He bemoaned what he believes is the party’s deviation from its democratic principles, questioning, “‘How did we get here as a Party in the first place, and how far are we prepared to tread on this dangerous path to self-destruction?’”.
