Delegates of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have been urged to put the party’s interest first and vote for a candidate who can retain power in 2024.

Former General Secretary, Nana Ohene Ntow, made the call on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme on Wednesday.

In his view, former Trade and Industry Minister, Alan Kyerematen is very appealing to the political market compared to the potential candidate of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), former President John Mahama.

“I know a lot of NPP members who have said they will vote in 2024 if only Alan is made the flagbearer,” he said.

Given his experience as Trades Minister in the Akufo-Addo government, he said Mr Kyerematen has the magic wand to retain power in 2024.

Meanwhile, the former Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen has officially announced his intention to contest the NPP’s flagbearership race.

According to him, he will pick the form when nominations are opened by the party.

The 67-year-old made his intentions known in a national broadcast on Tuesday evening.

Delivering his address, the man popularly called ‘Alan Cash’ expressed his appreciation to the President for the opportunity to serve in his administration.

“I wish to express formally, my profound gratitude to His Excellency the President for the opportunity given me to serve the good people of Ghana in his administration over the last six years,” he stressed.

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Mr. Kyerematen also revealed that if he is voted as President in the 2024 elections, he will become a transformational leader.

“Fellow countrymen and women, if by the will of God and through your goodwill, I am voted first, as the flagbearer of the NPP and subsequently as President of the Republic in the next general elections, I will become the transformational leader of our time, who will build on the foundations laid by successive leaders of our nation over the last sixty-five (65) years”.

On January 6, the government official tendered in his resignation which many rumoured was to help him focus on the flagbearership race.

Mr. Kyerematen made an attempt at the leadership of the NPP in 2007, capturing 32.3% of the votes cast.

He was first runner-up to Nana Akufo-Addo who gained 47.96% of votes cast.

Mr. Kyerematen made other attempts at the party’s leadership in 2010 and 2014 but placed second to Akufo-Addo, who won the primaries.

In 2012, Ghana nominated Kyerematen for the post of WTO director-general to succeed out-going Director-General Pascal Lamy, and his candidature received the backing of the African Union (AU).

He was later appointed the Minister of Trade and Industry when President Akufo-Addo took office.