; As he unites with President Mills in Adis Ababa

The appearance of a former contender of the flagbearership of the opposition New Patroitic Party (NPP), Mr Alan Kyeremanten at the unveiling of the stature of Ghana’s first president Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah at Adis Ababa gives credence to reports that the internal wrangling within the New Patriotic Party which largely gone unreported, is far from over.

Mr Kyerematen who graced the occasion with excitement couldn’t hide his joy as he embraces president Mills. He was full of excitement describes the event as historical and very symbolic and called for the review of the notes by people who do not acknowledge Nkrumah as a great African.

“Nkrumah inspires vision and hope for Ghana and we must all work for more commitment to the national cause as a people with one destiny,”

‘It is historic day for me and I believe this will pave way for building of bridges towards a better Ghana.” Mr Kyeremanten said.

Alan Kyeremanten’s presence at the function is said not to have raffled feathers at the camp of Nana Addo as he believes this will send a bad signal out his teeming supporters that Alan has abandoned him when he was needed most.

The relationship between Nana Addo, and Alan his closest contender at the last 2010 flag-bearership race, was said to be frosty and has the tendency to cause the disintegration of the party.

Political pundicts have suggested the bitter contest between Nana Addo and Mr Alan Kyerematen for NPP flag-bearer in December 2007 contributed to the party’s defeat at the 2008 elections. The various groups belonging to the two leaders are said to have had irreconcilable differences and never closed their ranks.

The resultant cracks thereof cost the party the elections as it lacked the needed unity and cohesion to make a concerted effort during the campaigns.

Mr Kyerematen prior to the elections even resigned from the NPP citing intimidation of his supporters by supposed supporters of Nana Akufo-Addo. He however rescinded his decision and rejoined the party but only after interventions by the elders of the party.

Mr Alan Kyerematen have been quite on the political scene for a while and many political observers believes, he has fallen out with Nana Akufo-Addo over campaign strategy.

He is said to have told a number of his supporters that he will not have anything to do with Nana Addo’s campaign for 2012 as he Nana Addo has refused to listen to advice from party elders such as ex-president Kufuorr and former chief of staff, Kojo Impiani.

It is therefore not surprising to see him in Adis Ababa together with Mrs Mary Chinery-Hesse, former Special Advisor to former President John Agyekum Kufuor, former president Rawlings, Dr Don Arthur of the Office of the President, and Mr Kwesi Quartey, Ghana’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, on stage with President Mills to unveil Nkrumah’s statue.

President Mills was the Guest of Honour at the ceremony, which was performed in the presence of a number of African leaders attending the 18th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the AU.

The unveiling of the statue was in recognition of the leaders of the 54-nation continental body of the leading role of Dr Nkrumah in the African liberation struggle.

Dr Nkrumah was also founding member of the Organisation of African Unity, now the AU, as well as the Pan Africanist Movement.

The True Statesman

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