I never rejected NPP - Alan

A leading contender in the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) flagbearership race, Mr. Alan Kyerematen, is unhappy about what he sees as a smear campaign against his ambitions in a section of the media.

He described as misleading media reports that he bragged about rejecting an offer to him to lead the party in 1996.

A statement issued by Mr Kyerematen’s campaign team and signed by Mr Philip Longdon said: “It is totally unacceptable and unfortunate that Mr Kyerematen could be portrayed as someone who rejected the party, something he would never do.

“What really happened at the time was that he was put forward by the executives of the Young Executive Forum (YEF), of which he was the chairman, to contest the presidential primary. However, Mr Kyerematen declined the offer after leading members of the party, including Akenten Appiah Menkah and Okatakyie Dr Donkor Forjour, impressed upon him to bid his time and allow older aspirants to contest,” the statement explained.

The statement said Mr Kyerematen, “in the spirit of party unity, cohesion and peace,” agreed with the elders after they had pleaded with him to step down.

“For the same reasons of party unity and peace, Mr Kyerematen, in the heat of the NPP’s presidential elections at Legon in 2007, agreed not to have a second round and allowed Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to go as the candidate,” the statement added.

The team described Mr Kyerematen as someone who is committed to the good and harmony, as well as the peace of the NPP, and therefore described as misleading any attempt to paint him in the media as “bragging about his rejection of the chance to lead the party.”

“This is something he would never do,” they said, and called on the media to show fairness to Mr Kyerematen, who has over the years maintained a cordial and professional relationship with the media, which he believes is indispensable in the politics and governance of the country, the statement said.

The statement reiterated the need for a “deepened professional working relationship between political leaders and the media.”