A Senior Political Science Lecturer at the Kwame University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Dr. Kwasi Amakye Boateng, says Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen would have lost the November 4 presidential primaries of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) terribly had he not withdrawn from the race.

Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosiisen programme on Wednesday, September 6, Dr. Boateng said the former Trade and Industry Minister had already lost his grip and influence within the NPP long before the election.

The lecturer noted that he was surprised as to why Mr Kyerematen thought he was nurturing a presidential ambition in the party.

According to him, Alan’s performance in the Super Delegates’ Conference where he emerged third and far off from his closest contender, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was a sign of failure and clearly an indication of the end of his political career.

Dr. Boateng says Alan’s withdrawal from the race on Tuesday, September 5, citing electoral irregularities, unfair treatment and bias during the super delegates’ conference did not come to him as a surprise.

“After the super delegates’ conference, I said that Alan’s terrible performance indicated failure, and it was a sign of an end to his political ambition considering his stature in politics and in the party."

"But then some also said he [Alan] has a strong connection to the grassroots and so he could pull a surprise there, and I had to listen to other arguments as well. So, I didn’t expect him to withdraw, but when he eventually did it wasn’t a surprise to me” he noted.

Although he disagreed with Alan’s claims about a super delegates’ conference that was characterised by violence except for the pockets of incidents, Dr. Amakye Boateng agreed with the notion that the decision to hold the election at different points rather than a central location, allowed for influence peddling and may have given others an advantage in the exercise.

“The election itself was an elite election. It was a few influential individuals in the party who went to vote, and it takes out so much from the election which is worse than physical violence. It’s a case of two individuals; with one carrying charcoal and the other carrying raw meat, and then you expect all of them to attract flies to themselves.

“It happens that the one carrying charcoal doesn’t attract any flies, but the one carrying raw meat attracts flies, and to me, this played itself out, and that’s why Alan’s performance went that way. It was ably supported by the coercive element of the environment that required the election to be held at different centres. These were subtle but they’re obvious to people who have eyes to see them. They played out so strongly and significantly."

"And don’t forget there are no jobs in this country, and many of the people who went to vote I expect are all working in government and they want to keep their jobs and positions and enjoy the largesse in government. When you put all these together, you want to know why Alan performed so terribly “he noted.

He added that the outcome of the election “was strategised long ago. It started in Kumasi when Chairman Wontumi knew he was going to lose his second term bid and he was made to go unopposed through Nana Addo’s direct intervention. I have reasons to come to this conclusion.”

“In elections, the rules should not enable people to win ahead of time. It defeats the paradox of electoral governance. If you are able to predict the outcome of the elections ahead, it means you can’t guarantee what we call electoral certainties. So, a lot of things have happened."

"In the Ashanti Region, we know Members of Parliament who have lost their seats over the years and you could see that there was a plan being implemented. And so, virtually Alan has been out for a long time. I don’t know whether he himself has been aware because I have not seen much of him by way of his people trying to counter that drive over the years, and I have been wondering why he still thinks that he’s still nurturing a presidential ambition in the NPP.

“Politics is politics, and one political scientist, Robert Dahl, has one general definition for politics I like to use – the exercise of influence. So, if I want to become the presidential candidate of my party and I have foresight, then definitely I would have to take the lead and do what I have to do, to get what I want. What did Alan do? I didn’t see it. Over here, I am not blaming anybody but these things have taken place and they have affected Alan’s fortunes."

Asked by the host of Ekosiisen, Osei Bonsu [Alias OB] whether Alan’s participation in the November 4 presidential primaries would have made any difference, the political scientist retorted, “He [Alan] would have lost miserably. Some people argued strongly that he’s a grassroots person so I was waiting to see how strong that ties is. If he himself had strong faith in that strength in the grassroots, then he didn’t have to come out. Why is that so? Because the moment he leaves the NPP he’s going to fade into insignificance whether he likes it or not."

Unlike the claim made by other political scientists, Dr. Amakye Boateng noted that Mr. Alan Kyerematen will not make any impact in Ghana’s politics outside of the NPP if he breaks away or attempts to go independent.

“Small parties have not survived in Ghana from the time of the struggle for independence till date. Small parties have not fared well. If he [Alan] stands as an independent candidate even Ashanti Region will not vote for him.