Immediate past Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen, 67, yesterday took up the gauntlet, officially putting paid to years and months of speculations that the he would contest for the flagbearer slot of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) when the party blows the whistle for potential contenders to file nominations.
“If by the will of God and through your goodwill, I am voted first, as the flagbearer of the NPP and subsequently as President of the Republic in the next general elections, I will become the transformational leader of our time, who will build on the foundations laid by successive leaders of our nation over the last sixty-five (65) years.
To achieve this strategic goal of transforming our dear country to become the shining star of the new Africa, I will as President, launch and lead the execution of the Great Transformational Plan (GTP) of Ghana which will span the period 2025 to 2030”, the former minister noted.
In a televised address to declare his intention officially, the lawyer, with extensive and distinguished record in international trade itemized seven points in his bid to build a formidable work unit and independent Ghana.
The seven points were: the primacy of the Private Sector in our national development agenda, attitude to work and enforcement of discipline, corruption and petty theft or thievery, the arrogance of power, passion for excellence, focus more on getting things done than talking, our politics in Ghana is too divisive.
On ‘The primacy of the Private Sector in our national development agenda,’ the former Ambassador to the United States of America admonished that “Government’s focus must be to facilitate the process of making our private sector competitive, by creating an enabling environment for businesses.”
He said about attitude to work and enforcement of discipline, that “We as a people should appreciate the need for discipline in all spheres of our national lives and change our attitude to work. It is your duty to ensure that you earn your living from the efforts of your labour.
Corruption and petty theft or thievery, particularly from the public purse,deny our country the benefit of utilizing its tax revenue and other resources for the development of our country.”
The arrogance of power, according to the former minister, has been a major obstruction to progress in our country, and that “In servant leadership, humility is an asset and not a weakness. Passion for excellence. As a country we must celebrate competence and excellence and not mediocrity.”
“As a people, we must focus more on getting things done than talking. Ghana is gradually becoming a NATO country – “No Action Talk Only”. What Ghana needs now are solutions and actions not debates.
And last but not the least, our politics in Ghana is too divisive. This keeps out some of our best talents in offering themselves for political appointments,” parts of his speech reads.
