The Market Queens receiving the forms
Former Trade and Industry Minister, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, has officially picked forms to join the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) presidential race.
This is after some Market Queens, in support of Mr. Kyerematen’s candidacy, picked nomination forms on his behalf at the NPP Headquarters in Accra on Wednesday, May 31, 2023.
Mr. Kyerematen adds to a number of stalwarts of the party that have picked forms to contest in the party’s presidential primary scheduled for November 4, 2024.
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, on Tuesday, May 30 picked his forms through the former Vice Chairman of the NPP, Fred Oware, bringing the number of persons that have officially taken the significant step to lead the NPP in the 2024 general elections to six.
Boakye Agyarko, Kwabena Agyapong, Kofi Konadu Apraku and Francis Addai-Nimoh picked their forms on the first day, May 26, when the party opened nominations, while the Vice President and a certain Kwadwo Poku picked theirs on Tuesday.
The move by the market women comes after a number of candidates who have declared their interest to contest in the upcoming NPP presidential primaries picked their forms.
They believe that Mr. Kyerematen has what it takes to lead the NPP to victory in the 2024 presidential elections.
Speaking to reporters, leader of the Market Queens, who gave her name as Comfort Serwaa, leader of Kumasi Tomato Sellers Union said, “We are tired of the same old politics where the needs of the ordinary Ghanaian are ignored. Mr. Kyerematen is a man of the people, and we believe he will put the interests of the people first.”
According to the leader of the Market Queens, although the market women are not certain on who becomes the next leader of the NPP, they wholeheartedly support the candidate the voluntary group is canvassing support for, thus, Mr. Kyerematen.
She continued that all the market women expressed their readiness and were willing to raise funds for the nomination forms of the former minister because they believed he understands market women and appreciate their industry better with his years of experience at the ministry.
“So, our presence here today is to honour that,” she said.
Another member of the group, Yaa, added, “We have seen Alan Kyerematen’s track record in government, and we are impressed. He has a vision for Ghana, and we want to be a part of making that vision a reality.”
The Queens group has pledged to continue its grassroots mobilisation efforts in support of Mr. Kyerematen, and they are calling on other Ghanaians to join them in supporting his bid for the presidency.
Mr. Kyerematen has not yet commented on the show of support from the Market Queens, but sources close to him say he is grateful for their endorsement and will work hard to earn the trust and support of Ghanaians across the country.
The NPP will elect its flagbearer for the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections in November, and so far 11 aspirants have declared their intention to contest for the position.
By Vincent Kubi