Mr. John Alan Kodwo Kyerematen, a leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has reignited his presidential ambition, calling on NPP delegates to elect a candidate who could appeal to both party members and floating voters.
He said that the party needed someone "who can unite our party, put in place effective campaign mechanism, capitalize on our eight-year track record and deliver a concise message to offer hope for the electorate to return the NPP to power."
Mr. Kyerematen was addressing separate gatherings of the NPP constituency and poling station executives, supporters and sympathizers in the Greater Accra Region on Monday, in what looked like an unofficial launch of his presidential bid for Election 2012.
He said that the battle for power in 2012 was not between him and other aspirants of the NPP presidential slot.
Mr. Kyerematen said he was a symbol of hope and prosperity, resourceful with fresh ideas, God-fearing, humble, unifier who represented both young and old people, and attractive to floating voters, who could deliver victory for NPP in Election 2012.
He touted the achievements of the NPP government between 2001 and 2008, saying they were the party's trump card for winning the polls in 2012.
Mr. Kyerematen said that the party's new presidential candidate must present an agenda, which would help build on those achievements, to improve the lot of Ghanaians.
He outdoored his message for 2012 Election, which included expanding health infrastructure, by granting loans to private individuals to build
hospitals and clinics to ensure that all Ghanaians had access to proper medical care.
Mr. Kyerematen also promised to improve the working conditions of teachers, revamp education, road infrastructure and revive the economy to
raise the Gross Domestic Product to provide jobs and cash for Ghanaians.
He said these laudable objectives would remain vague without an effective machinery to sell them to the electorate.
Mr. Kyerematen promised a campaign strategy, which would involve grass root participation and organization and ensure that constituency and polling station members took control of the campaign.
He said that his decision not to request for a second balloting to determine a clear winner for the party's flag bearer slot during its last
presidential primaries in 2007 was to safeguard the interest and unity of the party.
Mr. Kyerematen said "I made the supreme sacrifice to step aside and support my brother, for purposes of unity in the party even though I could have won if we had gone for the second round."
He said with the expanded electoral college of the NPP of which about 115,000 delegates would vote to choose the flag bearer, his chances of
winning the slot was brighter.
Mr. Kyerematen addressed two gatherings each in three constituencies, La Dadekotopon, Odododoidoi and Klotey Korley, where he delivered a message christened "Restoring Hope for the Future, the Need to Make the Right Choice".
He was met by enthusiastic NPP supporters of mainly the youth, who sung songs, calling on the party, especially delegates, to choose a young and energetic person with fresh ideas to wrest power from the National
Democratic Congress.
At Odododoidoi, there were temporary hold ups when Mr. Kyerematen walked through James Town, Makola and Kantamanto markets and Tudu traffic light as market women, commuters and passers-by demanded that he addressed
them, amidst shouts that "we want you in 2012".
At La Dadekotopon, he visited the Osu Children Home and donated three bags of rice, two cartons of key soap, two gallons of cooking, two boxes of milk and toiletries and GHc 500.00 towards the celebration of Easter by the inmates of the Home.
Mr. Kyerematen was accompanied by party stalwarts like Mr. Kwabena Adjepong, Mr. Maxwell Kofi Jumah, Mr. Kofi Dzamesi and Mr. Yaw Buabeng
Asamoah.