Alan disowns “Campaign Coordinator”

Alan John Kyerematen, one of several people hoping to win the flagbearership of the New Patriotic Party has dissociated himself from a statement attributed to one Prince Armah, purported to be the Western Regional campaign coordinator for his campaign.

Prince Armah's statement, which was published in the Friday August 24th edition of The Chronicle, quoted him appealing to NPP delegates not to vote for the Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama as the flagbearer of the Party, because "the Vice President is a weak and malleable candidate who would easily not only be ridden-over by the NDC but would also not debate and win elections with Prof Atta Mills”.

A statement signed by the former Trade Minister indicated that Prince Armah is not the Western Regional coordinator of his campaign team and that he has not been mandated to make that kind of statement.

Mr Kyerematen was categorical: “The Statement (if indeed it was actually made) in my view was uncalled for, and lacked political maturity”.

It further states, “Although I may be contesting the flagbearership of the NPP with other leading members of our party, I consider the real challenge for leadership to be between NPP as a party and other political parties and not between members of the same NPP family.

"In this regard, my campaign for the flagbearership of the NPP has been widely acclaimed to be devoid of any insinuations and attacks on the personality of other aspirants”.

The statement assures the Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama that the level of co-operation and genuine friendship that has characterised the relationship between the two in the past will remain the same.

"I wish also to use this opportunity to caution sections of the media from attempting to sow seeds of discontent amongst the leadership of the NPP family and to respect the rights of individuals engaged in the noble mission of serving the people of our dear country" it said.

Below is the full statement:

My attention has been drawn to a story published in the Friday August 24th edition of The Chronicle which quoted one Prince Armah, purported to be the Western Regional campaign coordinator for my campaign as appealing to NPP delegates not to vote for the Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama as the flagbearer of the Party, simply because "the Vice President is a weak and malleable candidate who would easily not only be ridden-over by the NDC but would also not debate and win elections with Prof Atta Mills.

I wish to dissociate myself completely with the statement attributed to the said Prince Armah and wish to comment further as follows:

1. The said Prince Armah is not the Western Regional coordinator of my campaign team and has not been mandated by anyone to make the statement attributed to him (although Prince Armah himself denies ever making that statements).

2. The Statement (if indeed it was actually made) in my view was uncalled for, and lacked political maturity.

3. Although I may be contesting the flagbearership of the NPP with other leading members of our party, I consider the real challenge for leadership to be between NPP as a party and other political parties and not between members of the same NPP family.

In this regard, my campaign for the flagbearership of the NPP has been widely acclaimed to be devoid of any insinuations and attacks on the personality of other aspirants.

4. I wish to assure the Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama of the same level of co-operation and genuine friendship that has characterised our relationship in the past.

5. I wish also to use this opportunity to caution sections of the media from attempting to sow seeds of discontent amongst the leadership of the NPP family and to respect the rights of individuals engaged in the noble mission of serving the people of our dear country.