A former Trades and Industry Minister and presidential hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, has announced plans to begin tours in the Greater Accra region on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. 

He was the first to face the Party’s nine-member vetting committee on Monday. 

Addressing the media after going through the process, Mr Kyerematen, indicated plans to deploy an innovative approach in the conduct of his campaign. 

That, he said, included clustering constituencies, bringing party executives together not only within their own constituencies but also in other constituencies within the cluster. 

“I have decided that I will introduce an innovation into my constituency tour by clustering constituencies for the purpose of bringing my Party’s executives together, not just within their own constituencies, or in a few other constituencies in the cluster that will help energise the rank and file of our Party,” he said.  

“It's all about making sure that we work together as a Party in our march towards victory 2024.” 

The NPP, on Monday, commenced the vetting of presidential aspirants of the Party. 

Vice President Dr Mahamafu Bawumia and Mr Kwadwo Poku an Energy Expert were also vetted by the Party on Monday. 

Mr Boakye Kyeremateng Agyarko, former Energy Minister; Mr Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, a former NPP General Secretary, and Mr Kennedy Agyapong, the Member of Parliament for Assin Central are expected to be vetted on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. 

On Wednesday, Mr Kofi Konadu Apraku, an Economist; Mr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, a former Food and Agriculture Minister and Mr Joe Ghartey, a former Railway Minister, would take their turn while Mr Francis Addai-Nimoh, a former MP for Mampong, will appear before the vetting committee on Thursday. 

Mr Poku said he was unperturbed by the process because he believed he qualified  

“I think I fit the criteria and qualify and fit more than 100 percent, so it is not an issue of qualification...,” he said. 

He brushed aside reports that some candidates were being favoured, saying the delegates were the only ones who could determine who to lead the Party as flagbearer come 2024. 

“I don't think anybody's being favoured. If two, three people are favouring one person those two, three people have three counts. There’s gonna be 230,000, if 230,000 people favour one person then that person will win,” he said. 

The Party is expected to hold a special delegates conference with 900 delegates to trim down the number of candidates to five, ahead of its National Congress on November 4, provided the committee approves five of the ten candidates to contest for the position.