- he does not know what poverty is

A former Chairman of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Western Region, Mr. Francis Ekow Hagan has called on the party delegates not to vote for Mr Alan Kyerematen, former Minister of Trade and Industry because he has never tasted poverty in his life. He noted that such a person could never come out with a comprehensive programme to save Ghanaians from the poverty they find themselves in.

Mr. Eghan who was speaking during a radio discussion programme on Kyzz PM in Takoradi Thursday noted that Alan Kyeremanten, known in political circles as ‘Alan-Cash’ had spent most of his life time outside the country and did not know what poverty was in Ghana. Mr. Eghan, popularly known as ‘Abaatan’ in Takoradi told his host, Kwarne Macolm during the station’s Morning Show that Alan was not a popular candidate among the many aspirants in the NPP who could shoulder the responsibility of winning next year's elections for the Party.

To him, he should not waste the chances of the ruling NPP since it would be extremely difficult to market him compared to the other candidates who have lived and spent most of their time in the country and are known as well. Abaatan noted that though there were rumours that Alan had money and that when he was elected he would help finance the Party’s campaign, he intimated that it should not be reason enough for the delegates to vote for him. "I am a member of NPP and would not be happy to see somebody like Alan lead us to the 2008 Elections", he said.

Mr Eghan, a noted critic of the Government further told listeners that though he was aware that Alan Kyeremanten was the one who established EMPRETEC that to him was not enough achievement to face somebody like Prof. Mills who had political experience. He appealed to the delegates to vote for one of the following; ¬Hon. Osafo Maafo, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, Dan Botwe, Hackman Owusu Agyemang and Nana Akufo Addo. Though 'Abaatan' is an Ahanta like Papa Owusu Ankomah who is known as 'Home Boy' in Sekondi, he (Hagan) said he did not include him (Owusu-Ankomah) because of his belief that he was not yet mature to become President of Ghana.