Alan Kyerematen’s recent tour of the five northern regions of Ghana highlighted the pressing need for development in an area brimming with untapped potential. Travelling through the Upper West, Upper East, Northern, North East, and Savanna regions, Alan observed firsthand the challenges facing communities and pledged to prioritize their development if elected.

In an interview with journalists at the end of his tour, Alan expressed deep concern about the region's lack of basic social and economic infrastructure, which he described as a significant gap in leadership by successive governments.

“The conditions here are truly concerning. In some communities, children are learning under poor conditions in extreme heat, while access to clean water remains a daily struggle for many families. This situation hinders their ability to thrive and fulfill their potential.”
He stressed that such challenges perpetuate cycles of poverty and inequality, holding back not only the region but the nation as a whole.

It is common to see children walking long distances to fetch water from streams with some washing clothing whilst others serve their livestock from the same muddy stream. Reflecting on such scenes, Alan noted that “No child should have to choose between going to school and helping their family fetch water. It’s a reminder of the urgent need for sustainable solutions to ensure every child has access to basic necessities like clean water and education.”

Alan also expressed concern about healthcare infrastructure, where some residents reportedly travel several kilometres to reach the nearest clinic. “It is disheartening to hear stories of lives lost due to preventable situations because of a lack of nearby health facilities. This is a region with immense potential to drive Ghana’s growth, yet it faces significant neglect. We must address this,” he stated.

The Non-Partisan Presidential Candidate also noted the struggles farmers go through with unpredictable weather patterns and lack of regular inputs and markets. Without support to modernize, the farmers continue with small subsistence methods that do not return enough value to them. Alan promised to introduce a New Agricultural Revolution to modernize agriculture for better incomes. “This region has the potential to be the food basket of West Africa, yet it struggles with food security challenges,” he said. He pledged to complete projects like the Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam and introduce agro-parks to enable year-round farming, emphasizing, “With the right support, agriculture in this region can flourish and transform lives.”

During his interactions with traders, Alan heard heartbreaking stories of market women trapped in debt cycles because they couldn’t access affordable loans. “These are hardworking people who need just a little support to thrive.”

He pledged to establish a Traders Bank to provide low-interest loans tailored to the needs of small-scale traders. “If we empower the traders, we empower the families they support,” he explained.

Concluding his interview, Alan challenged the people of the five regions in the northern half of the country, to rethink their political choices. “For decades, the duopoly has come here asking for votes, only to turn their backs once in power. Instead of providing concrete plans, they are now fighting over who is more corrupt or who has failed the economy more,” he said. “Bawumia now proudly claims that under the NDC, the rate of currency depreciation was 74%, while under the NPP, it is 72%, despite the cedi hitting 17 to the dollar under his watch. If this is what he calls proper management of the currency, then we have a huge leadership problem.”

He called on the people to demand more from their leaders and to consider the promise of change embodied in his Great Transformational Plan (GTP). “The northern regions deserve better. Your children deserve opportunities that allow them to dream and achieve. Together, we can turn these challenges into opportunities and ensure no family, no community, is left behind in our pursuit to alleviate poverty,” he concluded.