"Allegations of Presidential Support Meant To destroy Me'

Story: Kwame Asare Boadu, Kumasi

A presidential aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Alan Kyerematen, has stated that he has become a target of destruction by his detractors because of his growing popularity and the giant strides he has made in the run up to the party’s congress.
"They know I am the heir apparent," Mr Kyerematen said, and added that the signs were clear that he was winning the race to lead the NPP to victory in the 2008 presidential elections and that was why allegations like ‘the President is supporting me’, and ‘I am not a key party member are being banded around’.
The aspirant, who said this when he launched his Ashanti Regional campaign towards the congress at the Dwabrem of the Centre for National Culture in Kumasi on Wednesday, said, "In 2004, President Kufuor's portrait appeared on the presidential ballot paper and I know that in 2008 my portrait will be on the ballot paper for the NPP."
The launch was attended by potential delegates made up of constituency executives, polling station chairmen and a large number of party members.
Mr Kyerematen told the cheering party members that he was looking up to the 2008 elections because "I am confident that you will give me the mandate to lead you".
He expressed concern over the issue of some people continuing to link his ambitions to the support he had received from Mr Kufuor when he and the President had come out openly to deny the allegation.
Mr Kyerematen said he believed in President Kufuor as a man of character, humility and master performer but indicated that he (Kyerematen) had the capacity to win the slot without the support of the President.
The aspirant also indicated that he had been a loyal member and key player of the party since 1992 and no one could downplay that role to score political points.
He said he was the chairman of the Young Executive Forum of the party for many years and contributed in diverse ways to bring the party up.
"Who can say then that I am not an insider of the party?" he asked.
He gave the assurance that he would fulfil all the promises he had made.
Mr Kyerematen said he had donated 230 motorbikes to all the party’s constituency branches and also assisted 140 constituencies nation-wide to start a project each that would generate income to support the party's activities.
He promised to donate a brand new pick up to each of the party's 230 constituency offices when he won the presidential slot.
Mr Kyerematen highly commended President Kufuor for leading the nation to a respectable measure of economic development and said that would be a plus for his campaign in 2008.
He urged the party members to go to the front doors of the people to campaign as the party prepared for the 2008 elections.