afrol News, 21 April - Ghana’s ruling New Patriotic Party of President John Kufuor is in a state “shock” over the resignation of Alan Kyerematen, former Trade and Industry Minister and unsuccessful presidential candidate.

Kyerematen - one of the high profile presidential aspirants during the NPP's last December congress - tendered his resignation from the party last Thursday.

Because of his lavish spending of money during the ruling party's last congress, Kyematen was nicknamed “Alan Cash."

Despite being the favourite candidate of President Kufuour, Mr Kyerematen's desire to lead the party in the next presidential elections had failed.

He was ranked second in the vote, but was persuaded to concede defeat to avoid a second round, giving room for the endorsement of the candidature of the former Foreign Minister, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Circumstances surrounding Kyerematen’s resignation from the party he had served for decades are still muddy.

The General Secretary of NPP, Nana Ohene Ntow, attributed the resignation to the continued allegations of intimidation and harassment meted out his followers after the December 22 National Delegates' Congress.

However, media reports linked Kyerematen to the Reformed Patriotic Democrats, a factional political party that broke off from the ruling NPP and recently launched in Ghana’s second largest city Kumasi.

Political pundits believed Mr Kyerematen's resignation has dealt a big blow to the ruling party.

By S. Makalo

© afrol News

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