It has been confirmed that Trade and Industry Minister, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen has submitted his resignation letter to the Presidency to enable him concentrate on his presidential campaign.
Impeccable sources from government circles and close to Mr Kyerematen have confirmed to Graphic Online.
The letter was submitted on Thursday evening (January 5, 2023) to the seat of government at the Jubilee House.
The government is yet to respond to the letter.
The Alan Kyerematen team will speak to the media today.
All political pundits are watching how this development will unfold.
Mr Kyerematen is one of the leading aspirants wanting to lead the New Patriotic Party (NPP) into Election 2024 as a presidential candidate.
His first attempt to lead the NPP was in 2007 when President John Agyekum Kufuor was exiting after 2008, having served a two year term.
Current serving President Akufo-Addo beat Alan Kyerematen at the primary. A total of 17 candidates were in that race. Mr Kyerematen was the runner up.
After that, he made similar attempts in 2010 and 2014 towards the general elections of 2012 and 2016 but was still beaten by Nana Akufo-Addo.
In the 2020 presidential election, President Akufo-Addo who was going for a second term was given a popular endorsement, as he entered the race unopposed.
With his exit after 2024, the NPP is looking for a successor and Mr Kyerematen has long being lacing his boots to take over, but not without a strong challenge from the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, who is also tipped to enter the race.
Dr Bawumia has been tipped as a strong opponent, who could retire the 67-year-old Mr Kyerematen from his presidential ambition.
Other aspirants, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, Member of Parliament for Assin Central, former General Secretary of the NPP, Kwabena Agyei Agyapong and the Minister of Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto have all expressed interest to enter the race when the doors are formally opened.
The NPP has not fixed a date for the presidential primary but it is anticipated it will be held before the end of 2023.
The opposition National Democratic Congress has announced to hold it's presidential primary on May 6, 2023.