Political scientist, Dr Kwame Asah Asante has disagreed with critics who are of the view that it is good former Trade and Industry Minister, Alan Kyerematen withdrew from the NPP flagbearership race.

He insists that Mr Kyerematen could have won the election despite the challenges that led to his withdrawal.

"Who is that soothsayer saying Alan will lose? Who is that and where did he see that? It doesn’t come in like that. It is not the case,” he said.

According to him, Mr Kyerematen “had seen something entirely wrong with the process and he is convinced beyond reasonable doubt that nothing will change come November 4. He is a rational human being and since that will not be to his benefit, he will obviously shelve it. So that is the decision he has taken.

“So are you by this saying that Boakye Agyarko also saw the defeat on the wall? No."

Mr Kyerematen on Tuesday, September 5 announced his decision to step down from the flagbearership race.

Read more: https://myjoyonline.com/alan-lists-grievances-against-npp-fears-how-far-party-will-tread-on-dangerous-path-to-self-destruction/

He listed a litany of grievances against the party in its recent Super Delegates Conference held on August 26.

In his statement announcing his withdrawal, he cited assault, violence and a skewed process as part of the grounds for his action.

Read more: https://myjoyonline.com/npp-primaries-alans-withdrawal-did-not-come-as-a-surprise-dr-mahama/

But critics have stated that it was long overdue since he didn’t stand a chance.

In a related development, political analyst, Dr. Kobby Mensah, says should Alan Kyerematen decide to run as an independent candidate, he will be a formidable third force.

According to Dr. Mensah, should the former NPP presidential aspirant decide to run solo, he could win the support of Ghanaians who have become disenchanted with the political duopoly of the NPP and NDC.

He noted that unlike other smaller parties and their often not-widely-known candidates, Alan Kyerematen’s political profile is well-known across the country and he enjoys considerable goodwill from Ghanaians.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Top Story, he said, “The country itself, I mean, you hear quite a lot of people unhappy with what you call the duopoly where you have the NDC and NPP changing the baton every now and then and so most people have actually expressed that kind of opinion that there must be a third force."

Also read: https://myjoyonline.com/alan-kyerematen-could-be-a-formidable-third-force-kobby-mensah/

“In the past whenever we have had a certain third force, it hadn’t naturally been to the level where you think they can wrestle power. Obviously, we had Abu Sakara being a very formidable candidate for CPP, and at some point, we had Papa Kwesi Nduom for CPP as well. Very formidable.

“But they couldn’t actually make the kind of impact that we thought. Papa Kwesi Nduom went on to establish the PPP and still could not actually make the kind of impact that we were expecting.”

Dr. Mensah further stated that previous third-force contenders had failed primarily because of the timing.

Meanwhile, the NPP says it has accepted Mr Kyerematen's decision to withdraw from the presidential primaries.

The General Secretary of the party, Justin Kodua Frimpong, in a press statement issued on Wednesday, September 6, said the issues Mr Kyerematen raised in his resignation letter will be investigated thoroughly.

He added that adequate sanctions would be meted out to anyone found culpable.

"We wish to reassure all stakeholders and the general public that the reports of the aforementioned committees will be made readily available and persons who may be found culpable of any wrongdoing will be held accountable."