Independent presidential aspirant, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, says his candidacy is set to make a case for why Ghana needs to be led by an independent candidate.
According to him, the current duopoly being enjoyed by the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress(NDC) has provided the dividends necessary for the advancement of the state.
He said while it may seem Ghana is not yet ready for an independent candidate, the country is ready for a new kind of leadership that will advance the nation to a brighter future, and that will not be achieved under the duopoly.
“Oh it’s not about Ghanaians being ready for an independent candidate; it’s about making a case for an independent candidate. It’s about making a case for an independent candidate on the basis of what the current model has done for our country.
“As I’ve explained, we’ve had varying fortunes in terms of our own country’s advancement and development. In my considered opinion the duopoly has created more division in our politics than otherwise. Why do we want to continue on that tangent?
“ Why would you want to continue on that tangent? Why would you think that the results would be any different going forward with the same kind of model? So, like everything else, if it doesn’t work, you think outside the box,” he said in an exclusive with JoyNews at his Abelemkpe residence.
Alan Kyerematen argued that while an independent candidate winning the presidential elections in Ghana would be novel, it is nothing new in West Africa and certainly not impossible.
“By the way, this is not the first experience in Africa for example where you have an independent candidate becoming the president of a republic. In Benin close by, the current president, a very successful one came in as an independent candidate completely outside the existing parties.
“In his case, in actual fact, he came from the business community. So it is not that it cannot be done. The fact that it has not been done in Ghana does not mean that it cannot be done and does not mean that that is what we need to do. So I’m making a case for it,” he said.
He admitted that while he has been a product and a key player of the duopoly he currently blames for Ghana’s stunted growth, his divorce and subsequent challenge of the system should be reason enough to earn the support of Ghanaians.
“But if you’re a product of the duopoly and the analysis suggests that the duopoly has not conveyed the kind of benefits that the duopoly should then the fact that somebody who has been part of the duopoly cannot be the agent for change, I’m trying to understand where the logic would be that because you’ve been part of a particular system you cannot be the change agent for another business model.
“There’s nothing to suggest that the fact that you’re part of a particular system that you cannot come out of the system to lead the change process.
“It doesn’t matter that you’ve been part of the system. If you can come out and be the agent of change because we’re looking at how do we improve our chances of advancement. The current system has not worked for us are you seeming to suggest that we should continue to do exactly the same thing?” he argued.
He further stated that he even while he was a part of the system had always advocated for a united government against the current polarized duopoly the country is faced with.
“In my case I believe so. Because even whiles I’ve been part of the current model ive always preached that we need to be able to prosecute a political agenda that moves Ghana towards a united government,” he said.