Alan’s Return Is Good Omen For NPP - Mac Manu

Mr. Peter Mac Manu is the National Chairman of the NPP

By William Yaw Owusu

Saturday, 03 May 2008
THE chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Peter Mac Manu, says the return of Mr Alan Kyerematen to the ruling party puts it on a sound footing to ensure resounding victory in the December 7 general election.

The resignation of Mr Kyerematen, a founding member of the party and one of the aspiring candidates who contested and lost the last December flagbearership contest of the NPP and general generated media interest and general speculation.

In his resignation letter on April 17, Mr Kyerematen, a former Minister of Trade, Industry and President’s Special Initiatives, cited intimidation and alienation of his supporters after the congress as his reason.

His resignation had taken many by surprise, having pledged his support for the party’s flag-bearer Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, after his defeat at the congress and later accepting to be part of Nana Addo’s campaign team.

Mr Mac Manu who is on the campaign trail in the Afigya Sekyere West Constituency in the Ashanti Region, told the Times in a telephone interview that Mr Kyerematen’s return is welcome news that should be embraced by the rank and file of the party.

He said: "Mr Kyerematen has shown boldness, courage and magnanimity. He played a key role during the congress by conceding to Nana Akufo-Addo."

The NPP chairman said that the unity of the party "is an essential ingredient to ensure our victory in the December elections."

To those who felt disillusioned by the turn of events in the party following Kyerematen’s resignation Mr Mac Manu said: "Those are the ones I am particularly urging to remain calm and resolute behind the party to ensure resounding victory."

Commenting on Mr Kyerematen’s return to the party his spokesman, John Kumah denied that Mr Kyerematen had set conditions that must be met by the party before his return.

"He has not asked the party leadership to give him the running mate slot before he rescinds his decision," he said.

Mr Kyerematen, who wrote to the national chairman of the NPP on April 30, rescinding his resignation from the party, said later yesterday that he had no regret to have resigned and re-joined the party.

"I take decisions based on principle," he said and added: "I have no problem in dealing with the criticisms that will arise at the decision I have taken. I have good relationship with Nana Akufo-Addo and have no difficulty in relating to my colleagues in the NPP."

He said the decision to return to the party was genuine. "I am not looking for any position. I am only looking forward to contributing my quota to ensure a resounding victory for the NPP."

A cross section of people interviewed by the Times over the return of Mr Kyerematen had mixed reactions.

Emmanuel Kwadwo Takyi, a second hand clothes seller at Tudu described Mr Kyerematen as a "coward who could not stick to his decisions".

Mercy Toklo, a business woman said "I anticipated Mr Kyerematen will make a sudden u-turn. He has caused the NPP a lot of stress and he should come back to help defuse the simmering tension."

Kelvin Larty Clottey, a shop owner at Okaishie said Mr Kyerematen’s return will make the NPP even stronger adding, "The unity within the NPP has always been there and this latest development shows how smart the party" leadership is".