According to a report by MyJoyOnline, Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, Chairman of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Council of Elders, has expressed strong disapproval over recent comments made by Alan Kyerematen regarding former President John Agyekum Kufuor.
Speaking in an interview on JoyNews on November 25, 2024, Owusu-Agyeman condemned Kyerematen’s remarks, labeling them disrespectful and unwarranted.
The controversy stems from Kyerematen’s criticism of Kufuor’s endorsement of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as the NPP’s presidential candidate for the 2024 elections.
In an interview, Kyerematen questioned Kufuor’s long-term support of Bawumia and argued that it was inappropriate for the former president, a respected statesman, to publicly back one candidate over another in the upcoming polls. Kyerematen’s remarks have sparked debate, with many viewing them as an attack on Kufuor’s political integrity.
Owusu-Agyeman responded by reminding Kyerematen of the significant role Kufuor played in shaping his political career. He emphasized that the former president’s contributions to Kyerematen’s rise to prominence, particularly his appointment as Ambassador to the United States during Kufuor’s presidency, were pivotal.
“What President Kufuor has done for Mr. Kyerematen, I don’t think he has done for anybody in this party,” Owusu-Agyeman stated. He also pointed out that Kufuor’s decision to support Bawumia after two decades of political involvement was a personal and strategic one, highlighting that Kufuor’s actions were always motivated by the party’s best interests, not personal bias.
Owusu-Agyeman’s critique was sharp, dismissing Kyerematen’s claims about the origins of key policies, such as the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative, which Kyerematen had previously suggested he had a hand in.
The Council of Elders Chairman rejected this, reminding Kyerematen that major decisions, including the HIPC decision, were made by a collective leadership, with Kufuor at the forefront.
“Where was he? I can tell you that as Foreign Minister, he was my ambassador to Washington and one of the biggest things we did was HIPC,” Owusu-Agyeman added. He emphasized the collaborative nature of such decisions, where Kyerematen’s contributions were often overstated.
Furthermore, Owusu-Agyeman dismissed Kyerematen’s insinuation that Kufuor’s endorsement of Bawumia was an act of impunity, labeling the criticism as “rude.” He reminded Kyerematen that it was Kufuor’s right, as a statesman and respected elder, to support the candidate of his choosing, particularly after having steered the country through numerous challenges.
