Journalists grill "Friends of Alan"

Journalists in Kumasi on Thursday subjected a group calling itself "Media Friends of Alan" to a barrage of questions, many of which bordered on the membership of the group.

The Chief Coordinator of "Media Friends of Alan," J Boakye-Kwakwa continuously parried questions about the media personnel backing Alan Kyerematen's candidature and at a point pointedly told journalists at the launch of the group that "no one can force" him to disclose the identities of the members.

He said "Media Friends of Alan" is a group of nonpartisan communicators who have come to a decision that in view of the importance of the forth coming New Patriotic Party delegates" congress to the nation, the choice of the flagbearer should not be left only to the delegates unaided.

According to Boakye-Kwakwa, a former editor of a local newspaper, Kumasi Mail, the media knows the aspirants better and therefore is in a better position to recommend and even endorse an aspirant to the delegates and the "Media Friends of Alan" have come to the conclusion that Alan Kyerematen should be endorsed as the preferred candidate for the flagbearership of the NPP at next week's congress at Legon.

"Alan Kyerematen's background as a professional manager, lawyer and economist, his initiatives, ingenuity and performance during the past 25 years has made him an undisputed leader among the aspirants," he said.

Boakye-Kwakwa said President Kufuor recently detailed the qualities of the person to succeed him and that he recommended a manager, a quality only Alan Kyerematen has. At the end of the launch, Boakye-Kwakwa invited interested media personnel to sign up to the group, promising them of a special treat this Christmas.