Alan responds to CASH

Hitherto, he has been derogatorily referred to as Alan Cash, with his flagbearership campaign being seen as heavily driven by money. But, meeting his party youth leaders recently, the outgoing Minister of Trade & Industry, chose to turn the nickname into a campaign asset.

With the two presidents of the Fourth Republic being 'John', the youth leaders were told the presidential aspirant's full name: Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen, 57.

According to the Statesman, Mr Kyerematen told more than 150 youth activists of the New Patriotic Party in Kumasi that he is labeled "Alan Cash" for very good reasons. That he has economically empowered several people since his time at EMPRETEC, and continues to do so. He said he believes in rewarding hard work.

The three-day workshop, which attracted both current and former TESCON executives opened at a yet-to-be-named new grand hotel at Ahodwo, in the Nyiaeso constituency, Kumasi on July 14. It was organised by Richard Anane, MP of the area, Paul Afoko, business executive, and NPP youth activist, Michael Ampong.

Others present were Charles Bintim, Minister of State at the Office of the President and former Local Government Minister, Tamale Municipal Chief Executive, Mohammed Amin-Anta, Kintampo District Chief Executive, Razak Awudulai, among others.

According to the Statesman, the event which was chaired by Mr Afoko, had the former Road Transport Minister talking on the issue of Alan enjoying presidential support, and the apparent dangers of a person like Nana Akufo-Addo being chosen as presidential candidate. More on this in Wednesday edition of The Statesman.

When the presidential hopeful took his turn to address the workshop. Mr Kyerematen, who had to rush to Accra for the AGOA Forum, the next day, assured the participants that nobody would work for him and go hungry. He asked for unalloyed commitment from the NPP youths in return for their due reward. He told them that he had empowered constituency executives of the NPP in many areas across the country.

The youth activists were given an impressive insight of Mr Kyerematen's achievements. They were told that Alan is founding member of the NPP. That, since 1992, he has been "a member of the National Executive Committee, a member of the party's Economic Management Team and a member of the Finance Committee. In 1996, he was a member of the NPP/PCP Great Alliance Negotiating Team."

From 1992 until he became Ghana's ambassador to the United States in 200I, Alan was the Chairman of the Young Executive Forum of the NPP, which, he has described as "one of the financial backbones of the NPP while in opposition and which has now successfully produced a National Chairman, in Peter Mac Manu.

Though seen as a newcomer in the scheme of things, Alan was quick to remind the young leaders of his party that he was sponsored by the YEF to contest as presidential candidate of the NPP in 1996, voluntarily withdrawing later for his "senior party members to compete for it."

In his view, "Ghana needs a businesslike person to move it to a middle income economy by 2015," and he provides the answer. Though his optimism of Ghana's per capita income reaching $1,000 in 8 years is generally not shared by economists, the Economics graduate and qualified lawyer, believes he has a broader vision and practical strategies for the economy of Ghana, drawing heavily from his EMPRETEC background.

The organisers of the programme described him as a unifying force, charismatic, knowledgeable, and can speak many languages, including Ga, Fante-Twi, Ashanti-Twi, and French, fluently.

The participants were drawn from TESCON membership, and also included some past and present student leaders from all the 10 Regions. They included James Wemegah, Awuku Agyei, Volta; Vida Agyekum, Annette Ampaw, Greater Accra; Akoto Acheampong, Prince Adofo, Ashanti; Mohammed Adams Karim, Ayata Alexander and Iddrisu Karim, Upper East.

The rest included Prince Annan and Hayford, Western; Dauda Mohammed, Henry Kyeremeh, Brong Ahafo; Barihama and Razak, Northern; and one Kingsley from the Eastern Region.

The purpose of the workshop was to train and indoctrinate the NPP youth activists to work as loyal apostles of Alan Kyerematen, especially by projecting his image and countering negative propaganda against him.

The Tamale Municipal Chief Executive, Mohammed Amin-Anta, spoke on the profile of the presidential hopeful, giving them reasons why Alan is the best candidate, while the Kintampo North District Chief Executive, Razak Awudulai, spoke about the need to sacrifice to get Alan elected as the NPP Presidential candidate, and consequently the President of the nation.

Stephen Amoah, a business consultant, spoke on the topic, "Maintaining a competitive urge in the race" while Godwin Amankwah, a media consultant, spoke on the topic, "Rapid response to political propaganda," and urged the participants not to disclose secrets about Alan's campaign to the media.

Source: The Statesman