WITH BARELY a few months ago, the founder of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings had raised US$7,000. One of the presidential candidate aspirants of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, who is now known in political circles as ?Alan Cash?, has bagged a whooping ?13billion from a fund-raising dinner dance he organised last Sunday at the International Conference Centre in Accra to support his campaign activities. At a parked dinner dance with close to 800 people in attendance, including party members from five regions, representatives of corporate organisations, sympathisers and others willingly gave out millions of cedis to oil the campaign strategies of Mr. Alan Kyerematen.

Mr. Paul Afoko, a known ally of the aspirant, whose father, Mr. Frances Afoko, is a member of Council of State, was the second highest contributor.

He contributed ?1billion while a company whose name was not readily available to this paper contributed the highest with ?1.5 billion to support the campaign of Mr. Alan Kyerematen.

Mr. Paul Afoko, in chat with this paper, confirmed the amount to that sum was raised because a lot of people believed in the vision of Mr. Kyerematen.

According to him, what baffled him was not the quantum of money donated by contributors but the concern of others to sacrifice their life and work for the aspirant to lead the party.

?What is interesting was the willingness of people to give their labour free of charge to work for Alan. The raising of that money shows the level of support, commitment and sacrifice of the people,? he said.

Afoko further told this reporter that he was shocked at the way people were willing to contribute the little they had to support Alan?s presidential bid. ?The story of the fund- raising night is not the story of four big donations. It is about the small donations that added up to over ?10billion which was more than those of the four big donors put together, he said

Speaking to this paper further, Mr. Afoko, who believed that Alan would lead the party to go beyond the nation?s political independence to achieve economic independence, said Alan had consistently admonished them to look to the fortunes of the party.

On his contributions, he said he had contributed towards the campaign of the aspirant to feel that, indeed, he had played a role.

He said this was not the first time, he had contributed and that he had been contributing towards the development of the party, except that he did not make noise over his contributions, stating that he was about to donate items to the party during the week.

This paper has gathered that 24 individuals who donated to support the campaign bid were not in attendance, but their names were mentioned to clear the doubts of people they described as the detractors of Mr. Alan.

Regency Resources Ltd, a company which was said to belong to one of President Kufuor?s sons also donated ?750million. Mr. Jojo Fosu, paid ?750million while a Kumasi-based businesswoman also contributed ?750million.

Mr. Stephen Asamoah Boateng, ?Asabee?, the Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations who was present donated a ?fat? sum of money.

The Chronicle sources revealed that the Minister?s ?fat? contribution was not mentioned upon the directives of the minister but his cheque was shown.

Prior to the dinner and the appeal for funds, Mr. Alan K, who was said to be full of praise and excitement, considering the number of persons present at the parked room, said it was his dream that he would get such support from the people.

He commended all members present and asked them to work with him to ensure that he secured the victory not only for the NPP but also for nation.

The campaign team of Alan K, praised Mr. Asabee for being the only minister with the courage to come to support his candidature with money.

The chairman for the occasion, Dr. Anthony Osei, who displayed the cheques and dollars he received from the donors, said the money raised was from people who were ever ready and prepared to help the candidature of Mr. Alan Kyerematen.

According to him, he did it to let the detractors of the aspirant, who was also a former Minister of Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development and PSI, realise that indeed people contributed towards the campaign bid of Mr. Alan.

He explained further that the money was not a fluke and that the people who contributed are known persons and groups.

He was of the view that the raising of the money went to confirm that should Alan be given the mandate to lead the NPP, he would be able to raise more from corporate institutions and individuals.

Alan, who was tagged as President Kufuor?s boy, is seen as one of the leading contenders for the presidential candidate slot of the party.

Alan, whose message was to create jobs and cash for the people, was among 17 aspirants at Asamankese in the Eastern Region on Sunday to prove their popularity.

Earlier, he organised a bicycle rally in the morning before going to Asamankese and finally moved to the Accra International Conference Centre to raise funds for his campaign.

This paper also gathered that prior to picking his nomination forms, four individuals had prepared to pay for the ?250million filing fee for the aspirant.

The Chronicle?s source at the fund-raising could not tell whether Dr. Richard Anane and Mr. Stephen Ntim were present.

As at press time The Chronicle gathered that figure realized at the fundraising dinner had increased to 27 billion cedi but this was not confirmed officially.