Former Minister of Trade and Industry and aspirant for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Alan Kyerematen, has stated that Ghana could have prevented its reliance on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) by implementing his proposed ideas.
However, failure of the country to heed to his advise ended the country up at the Bretton Woods institution.
During his recent tour of Greater Accra delegates, Alan Kyerematen emphasised the potential of President’s Special Initiatives (PSI) introduced during the previous administration of John Agyekum Kuffour. He stated that if the nation had embraced this transformative concept, it could have significantly altered Ghana’s economic trajectory.
Reflecting on his contributions to the country, he expressed a sense of regret, stating, “The amount of work I have done for this country, sometimes I even feel ashamed talking about it.”
He emphasized his role in introducing the President’s Special Initiatives during President John Agyekum Kufuor’s administration and suggested that had Ghanaians embraced his ideas, the country would not have resorted to seeking assistance from the IMF, he is quoted to have said.
The strategic intent of the PSIs, according to the NPP government, was to move Ghana’s economy beyond HIPC status and reduce the country’s over-dependence on aid and donor support and a few commodity exports by finding new pillars of growth.
A total of 10 NPP presidential candidate aspirants had picked up nomination forms as of Thursday, June 1, 2023, and had paid a non-refundable nomination fee of GHC50,000.
The 10 include; Vice- President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, a former Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, MP for Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, a former Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Joe Ghartey, a businessman and energy expert Kwadwo Poku, a former Minister of Energy, Boakye Agyarko, a former NPP General Secretary, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, a former MP for Mampong, Francis Addai-Nimoh, a former Minister of State, Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku and a former Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto.