There have been mixed reactions to the news of the resignation of Mr Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen from the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
While some endorsed the decision of Mr Kyerematen because of what they perceived as cheating on him by the leadership of the party in the presidential primaries, others also accused him of being selfish and parochial in the quest to become president of Ghana.
Again, while some of the people interviewed by the Ghana News Agency in Kumasi, expressed worry over the possible effect of the decision on the fortunes of the NPP in the 2024 general election, others also pointed to the fact that, NPP was strong enough without Mr Kyerematen.
Some of those who believed that the party could go to the elections and win without Mr Kyerematen cited the removal of Mr Paul Afoko and Mr Kwabena Agyapong, chairman and general secretary respectively from the party, prior to the 2016 general elections, but the party went ahead to win the election massively.
Others also cited the breakaway from the party by Mr Charles Wereko Brobbey, which had no effect on the party in anyway.
However, some traders in the central business district of Kumasi told the Ghana News Agency, that breaking the eight, without Mr Kyerematen, could be impossible.
According to them, the perceived treatment melted out to Mr Kyerematen and his supporters could reduce the number of votes of the party, especially in the Ashanti region.
“Mr Kyerematen, enjoys a huge following in the Ashanti region and his decision to break away and go as an independent candidate, can have a disastrous consequences for the NPP in its stronghold of Ashanti”, some of them claimed.
Some members of the opposition NDC also welcomed the news of the resignation of the former trade Minister and said it was a good opportunity for the NDC in the 2024 general election.
According to them, the already poor performance of the NPP in government, coupled with the severe divisions in the party and the growing discontent among the general Ghanaian populace on the current socio-economic hardships in the country, meant that, the NPP was already out of government.
Mr Kyerematen, on September 25, 2023, announced his resignation from the NPP to lead a new movement for change in Ghana in the 2024 general election with the decision generating a lot of debate among the populace.
GNA