Alan resigns as reshuffle looms

Sources close to Jubilee House and the Ministry of Trade and Industry have confirmed to Asaase News that around 5.30pm yesterday (5 January 2023), the Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan Kyerematen, tendered his resignation to President Akufo-Addo.

Although there is, as yet, no official communication from either the minister or the Office of the President, the resignation is said to be purely to allow Kyerematen to focus on his presidential ambitions as the race to find Akufo-Addo’s successor within the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) intensifies over the next few months.

Sources say the atmosphere when Kyerematen met the president was cordial, warm and even jovial at some points, with the two men fully appreciating the situation.

The past few days have brought a great deal of movement, speculation and lobbying as the president, according to reliable sources, is already set to reshuffle his cabinet before the end of this week.

Though details are sketchy, the reshuffle may focus on just a handful of ministries.

Kyerematen’s move is being described as “politically astute”, a case of jumping before being pushed.

With two years left of his final four years in office, the president is said to want a cabinet of ministers who are “100% focused on delivering on their ministerial mandate”.

The New Patriotic Party is yet to set a date for the election of its 2024 presidential candidate. But the smart money is on the primaries being concluded in the last two months of this year.

Campaigning is expected to intensify from the beginning of this year with at least six candidates expected to contest.

The usual challenge for an incumbent finishing his last term is how to focus his government on delivering on the mandate given and not to be unduly distracted by the pending contest for a future leadership.

Wilberforce Asare

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