Former Trade Minister, Alan Kyerematen, has recounted when he refused a cabinet ministerial appointment by former President John Agyekum Kufuor, whom he once contested against during a presidential primaries hosted by the New Patriotic Party in 1996.
During the 1996 Presidential Primaries, he contested alongside leading personalities in the Party such as Professor Adu Boahen, Mr. J. A. Kufour, Dr. Dsane-Selby, Dr. Kwame Sarfo Adu, Mr. J.H. Mensah and Dr. Jones Ofori-Attah.
According to him, he was prevailed upon by some senior members of the Party, in particular, Mr. Akenten Appiah Menka and Mr. Stephen Krakue, both of blessed memory, to sacrifice the opportunity to contest for the leadership of the Party, and rather support my senior colleague aspirants.
He noted that from 1996 to 2000, he played a leading role in supporting the bid of the then candidate John Agyekum Kufour to win the general elections, and become President of the Republic in 2001.
Following the elections, Mr Kyerematen says he was offered a Cabinet minister position, which he declined.
“After refusing appointment as a Cabinet Minister in the aftermath of the elections, the President persuaded me to become NPP’s first Ambassador to the United States, a position I served with distinction,” he said.
Mr Kyerematen made this revelation when he announced his resignation from the NPP today, September 25, 2023.
In 2003, Mr Kyerematen was appointed as Minister for Trade and Industry and Presidential Special Initiatives, to implement a new economic paradigm which he had introduced in 2001, on the assumption of office by President Kufour.
Between 2003 and 2007, he led the Government’s programme for enhancing private sector development and ushering a Golden Age of Business in Ghana.