Leader of the United Party (UP), Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen, has attributed part of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) heavy defeat in the 2024 general elections to his decision to leave the party and contest the presidential election as an independent candidate.
Mr Kyerematen claimed that the NPP lost the support of a significant number of voters following his departure, arguing that some of the party’s members also embarked on a campaign to discredit him after he announced his independent bid.
Speaking in an interview on United Television (UTV) Ghana, Mr Kyerematen said the NPP’s failure to retain some of the voters associated with him contributed to its loss of about 2.1 million votes.
“Do you know that after leaving the party and contesting as an independent candidate, 2.1 million voters didn’t vote for the NPP?” he said.
According to him, he had warned that there was insufficient time to organise his supporters effectively for the 2024 election, but maintained that the political campaign surrounding his exit had consequences for the NPP.
Mr Kyerematen further alleged that some NPP members sought to undermine his political standing by claiming that he did not have a strong voter base to influence the election.
He said the strategy may have backfired, with some voters who were unhappy about his departure choosing not to support the NPP.
“They said [Alan Kyerematen] is an independent candidate, then we will also not vote for them,” he stated.
The former Trade and Industry Minister, who contested the December 2024 presidential election under the Movement for Change banner, said his departure should therefore be considered when analysing the NPP’s performance in the polls.
The Movement for Change subsequently rebranded as the United Party, which Mr Kyerematen now leads.
He also suggested that there are further details surrounding his relationship with the NPP and the events leading up to the 2024 election that he has yet to make public.
“There are some things that, at the appropriate time, I will disclose,” he said.
Mr Kyerematen contested the 2024 presidential election as an independent candidate after leaving the NPP, where he had previously served as a leading presidential aspirant and Minister for Trade and Industry.
“I will address the issues surrounding the 2024 election at the appropriate time.” – Alan Kyerematen#UTVGhana pic.twitter.com/z7ofBCVN73
— UTV Ghana (@utvghana) September 14, 2026
