Article: Is Alan Kyerematen about to form a new political party?

Ghana’s political terrain may be on the verge of a significant transformation once again as Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen, affectionately called Alan Cash, signals the likelihood of forming a new political party ahead of the 2028 general elections.

Following a turbulent departure from the New Patriotic Party (NPP), an underwhelming performance in the 2024 elections as an independent candidate, and the lukewarm momentum of his “Movement for Change,” Alan appears to be recalibrating for what might be his final political gamble: founding a full-fledged political party to redefine Ghana’s entrenched duopoly.

Formative years with NPP

Alan’s political odyssey began in 1992 when he became a founding member of the NPP. His contribution to the party’s growth is extensive and consequential. He served on the party’s National Executive Committee for nearly a decade, chaired the influential Young Executive Forum (YEF), and participated in high-level negotiations, including the historic NPP-CPP alliance talks.

His impact was pronounced in government. As Ghana’s Minister of Trade and Industry under President Kufuor (2003–2007) and again under President Akufo-Addo (2017–2023), he spearheaded bold initiatives such as the One District, One Factory (1D1F) policy and was instrumental in hosting the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat in Accra.

His diplomacy as Ghana’s Ambassador to the U.S. and trade advisory role at the UN Economic Commission for Africa further solidified his credentials as an economic thinker and implementer.

Multiple bids, unfulfilled dreams

Despite his impressive CV and loyalty, Alan repeatedly fell short in his attempts to lead the NPP. He contested unsuccessfully against Nana Akufo-Addo in 2007, 2010, and 2014, placing second each time, even as Akufo-Addo’s grip on the party solidified.

His marginal showing at the super delegates’ congress in 2014, where he polled just 4.75% to Akufo-Addo’s commanding 94.35%, was perhaps the clearest sign that his dream of leading the NPP would remain elusive. Each loss deepened the perception of an entrenched hierarchy within the party and growing frustrations among his supporters about internal democracy and fairness.

In 2023, Alan’s final bid to become the NPP flagbearer ended in another disappointment when he came third behind Vice President Bawumia and MP Kennedy Agyapong. The result shattered any hope of internal reform from his perspective.

On September 25, 2023, he dramatically resigned from the NPP for the second time, citing disrespect and marginalization. “My services and contributions to the Party are not appreciated,” he declared, “and my continuous stay… will create further tension and division.”

Forming the Butterfly Movement

Alan did not resign quietly. On the day he announced his exit, he also unveiled his next act—the Movement for Change, symbolised by the butterfly. It was his way of signalling transformation: a departure from the hardened cocoons of Ghana’s political orthodoxy and a flight into a new, freer, reform-driven political future.

The movement bore the hallmarks of Alan’s political philosophy, economic transformation through industrialisation, private-sector growth, and pan-African trade.

His flagship proposal, the Ghana Transformational Plan (GTP), was unveiled with bold ambition in January 2024. It envisioned a wholesale remodelling of the economy over eight years, anchored in macroeconomic stability, technological innovation in agriculture, renewable energy, and digital inclusion.

However, the details—particularly how he planned to fund such an expansive agenda in the midst of an IMF programme and debt restructuring—remained vague. There was a resemblance between his proposals and those already touted by the NPP government he once served.

Poor showing in the 2024 elections

The December 2024 presidential election tested Alan’s personal political brand. Running as an independent candidate, he entered the race with a confident posture and a message that sought to transcend partisan loyalty.

But the results were sobering. Alan failed to make a significant dent in the duopoly of the NPP and NDC, a reflection of both voter loyalty to party lines and the lack of a strong, nationwide grassroots machinery to drive his candidacy.

For example, in the 2024 presidential elections, Nana Kwame Bediako of the New Force movement, who is commonly referred to as “Cheddar,” proved that he is indeed the new force in Ghana’s political terrain, beating Alan by 53,276 votes.

He garnered a total of 84,478 votes to place third in the presidential election, compared to Alan, a well-established political colossus, who placed fourth with a total of 31,202 votes.

Indeed, it was a painful lesson in the limits of individual political capital in a country where structures, not just ideas, win elections.

Alan’s new tangent

Alan appears to be charting a bold new course in Ghana’s political landscape. Once seen as a quiet reformer within the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Alan’s recent manoeuvres suggest he’s now taking cues from an increasingly relevant phenomenon in British politics: the meteoric rise of the UK Reform Party.

In the UK, Nigel Farage’s Reform Party – once dismissed as a fringe protest outfit- has surged in popularity, chipping away at the Conservative Party’s base and reconfiguring the political conversation.

The key to its success was building a populist, anti-establishment movement that captured public frustration and converted that energy into electoral influence.

It’s a model built not on sudden dominance but patient disruption—first by challenging the status quo and then becoming indispensable in coalition politics.

Alan may be hoping for a similar trajectory. His initial foray with the Movement for Change generated moderate buzz but lacked the whole structure of a political party. Now, by moving towards the formal establishment of one, he’s signaling a readiness to contest power and bargain with it.

Some say that if Alan had stayed in the NPP fold, this could have been his opportunity to make his strongest case for being the flagbearer for 2028. Some say it would have been a proper three-horse race, with Mr Kyerematen at his competitive best.

This is no longer merely a moral crusade against the duopoly of NPP and NDC; it’s a calculated strategy to wield leverage in a political system that may be entering a new era of fragmentation. Can it work? The answer lies in three key factors: timing, voter sentiment, and political arithmetic. First, timing.

Ghana’s 2028 election cycle is becoming one of the most unpredictable in recent memory. With rising economic discontent, youth unemployment, and a growing class of disengaged voters, there is fertile ground for an alternative voice.

If Alan can harness this disillusionment and present a credible policy-driven alternative, he can carve out a niche similar to what the Reform Party is doing in the UK.

Second, voter sentiment. Many Ghanaians, particularly the youth, are tired of the NPP-NDC duopoly, which they increasingly see as different sides of the same coin.

Alan’s moderate, experienced, and reformist brand could appeal to those seeking change without the chaos of radical populism. He doesn’t need to win the presidency outright to make an impact. Even a 5-10% showing could make him a kingmaker, especially in a close race.

Third, the arithmetic of leverage. In a polarized political environment, no party wants to risk losing due to a third force splitting the vote. Alan’s growing influence could give him the bargaining chips to negotiate a post-election alliance, or even extract policy concessions in exchange for support.

It’s a pragmatic move: form a party, build a loyal base, and use that base not just to win, but to matter. Of course, the risks are real. Without significant grassroots mobilization, media traction, and a unifying message, his party could be relegated to the long list of Ghana’s forgotten third forces.

But with a clear strategy, a charismatic campaign, and the right coalition of young voters and disillusioned moderates, Alan’s new tangent could prove more than just symbolic. In the end, this isn’t merely about forming a new party—it’s about redefining the rules of engagement.

And in that game, as the UK Reform Party has shown, sometimes being the disruptor is the shortest path to power. If Alan successfully transitions the Butterfly Movement into a political party, could it reshape the contours of Ghanaian politics?

Asaase Broadcasting Company airs on Asaase 99.5 Accra, Asaase 98.5 Kumasi, Asaase 99.7 Tamale, Asaase 100.3 Cape Coast, AsaasePa 107.3 (Accra).
Affiliates: Bawku FM 101.5, Bead FM 99.9 (Bimbilla), Mining City Radio 89.5 (Tarkwa), Nandom FM 101.9, Nyatefe Radio 94.5 (Dzodze), Sissala Radio 96.3 (Tumu), Somuaa FM 89.9 (Gushegu), Stone City 90.7 (Ho) and Wale FM 106.9 (Walewale).
Listen online: asaaseradio.com, Sound Garden and TuneIn.
Follow us:
X: @asaaseradio995, @Asaase985ksi, @Asaase997tamale, @asaase1003, asaasepa1073
Instagram: asaaseradio99.5, asaase985ksi, asaase100.3, asaase99.7tamale, asaasepa107.3
LinkedIn: company/asaaseradio995. TikTok: @asaaseradio99.5
Facebook: asaase99.5, asaase985ksi, Asaase100.3, asaase99.7, AsaasePa107.3.
YouTube: AsaaseRadioXtra.
Join the conversation. Accra: call 020 000 9951/054 888 8995, WhatsApp 020 000 0995. Kumasi: call 059 415 7985 or call/WhatsApp 020 631 5260. Tamale: call/WhatsApp/SMS 053 554 6468. Cape Coast: call/WhatsApp 059 388 2652.
#AsaaseRadio
#AsaasePa
#TheVoiceofOurLand