Some of us ganged up against Alan in 2008 to support Akufo-Addo – Agyarko reveals
The 2008 presidential primaries of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) witnessed a significant turn of events, as Former Minister of Energy, Boakye Kyerematen Agyarko, shed light on a covert alliance formed against Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, one of the aspirants vying for the party’s nomination.
In a recent interview on Kumasi-based Hello FM, Boakye Agyarko, who is currently vying for the NPP leadership in the 2024 general elections, revealed that some presidential candidate aspirants conspired against Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen during the primaries. Agyarko, however, refrained from disclosing the identities of the party elders who initiated this alliance.
According to Agyarko, the clandestine decision to oppose Kyerematen was reached after a secretive meeting with these influential party figures. The aspiring candidates were urged to step down from the race and throw their support behind Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the eventual winner of the 2008 primaries and the current president.
Recounting the events, Agyarko disclosed that the night before the 2008 primaries at Legon, they were summoned to the residence of a senior NPP member, who implored them to withdraw their candidacies in favor of Akufo-Addo. Despite the late hour, Agyarko and his associates declined this proposal, citing the need to consult with their respective followers before making such a crucial decision.
Although they chose not to step down from the race, Agyarko revealed that they were urged to persuade their supporters to vote for Nana Akufo-Addo. Consequently, the primaries witnessed a keenly contested battle, with Nana Akufo-Addo emerging as the winner with 47.9% of the total votes, while Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen secured 32.5% of the votes, making him the second runner-up.
As the 2024 general elections approach, Boakye Kyerematen Agyarko is now seeking the NPP’s leadership, possibly bringing with him valuable experience and insights from his past involvement in the 2008 primaries. The revelation of this previously undisclosed alliance sheds light on the intricate dynamics that can shape the course of political events, even within a party’s internal selection process.
