Immediate past General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Ohene Ntow, has dismissed claims that Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen resigned from the party. Alan is seeking to lead the NPP as presidential candidate into elections 2012, however his opponents say he does not qualify to stand for the post because he resigned from the party in 2008 and must therefore wait to be five years old in the party to stand for elections. Some supporters of Nana Akufo-Addo, who is also seeking the mandate of the party as flag-bearer, have kicked against Alan and made it a campaign issue, insisting that he does not qualify because his return from “resignation” makes him a new member of the party who is required by party constitution to serve his time. But Ohene Ntow, speaking to Asempa FM during its Ekosii Sen current affairs programme on Thursday, said even though Alan threatened and actually wrote to the party’s then Chairman, Peter Mac Manu, of his intention to resign, he never really consummated the process. According to the ex-party scribe, his attention was drawn to allegations that Alan had resigned from the party, following which he visited him in his office to ascertain the truth. He said Alan confirmed, and showed him a copy of the letter, which among other things, cited intimidation and persecution of his supporters (while he sought to be flag-bearer of the NPP for the 2008 elections) as well as persistent disregard of notices he had served the party’s leadership to address the issues, as grounds for his intended resignation. He believed if he resigned from the party, there would be peace in the party and among his followers. The party leadership was later to meet on the matter, and later assured Alan of a quick redress and therefore impressed upon him to withdraw his resignation. Following the assurance, Nana Ohene Ntow said, Alan wrote to the party withdrawing his resignation letter, and that is how the matter has since remained. It would therefore be misleading for anyone to insist that Alan resigned from the party and must therefore wait for five years to qualify to stand for elections. Drawing lessons from corporate practices, Nana Ohene Ntow argued that if a Managing Director is prevailed upon by the board of his company to rescind a resignation decision, and he withdraws the decision, it cannot be held against him that he resigned, more so when he is restored to all his entitlements. Story by Isaac Yeboah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana