Former Trade Minister Alan Kyerematen has refuted claims that he had always planned to abandon the New Patriotic Party over unresolved issues.Such claims have arisen following Mr Kyerematen's second departure from the ruling party. On September 25, Mr Kyerematen announced his exit from the party owing to a number of reasons including a change in the party's virtues and challenges with its electoral process.

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But in an interview on TV3, Mr Kyerematen noted that it was his initial desire to utilize the New Patriotic Party (NPP) as the platform through which he could promote and execute his vision for the nation if elected president. However, due to the challenges he encountered within the party, he ultimately decided to part ways.

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“I have been very staged about how I have positioned myself over the years,” he told Berla Mundi on the New Day show on Wednesday, September 27.“I would have wished to use the party, but for various reasons, I have decided that I will go directly to the people of Ghana,” he added.

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When he announced his second resignation from the NPP, Mr Kyerematen said that he had come to the realisation that his contributions were no longer needed in the party.He said this followed the harsh treatment meted out to his supporters by the party.“Persons associated with me are treated with disdain and outright outcast.”He accused the leadership of the NPP of skewing the internal elections in favour of one particular aspirant.

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In 2008, Mr Kyerematen resigned from the party owing to challenges with the 2007 presidential primaries were he lost to now President Akufo-Addo.

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