Former members of Alan Kyerematen’s Movement for Change have made a surprising U-turn, publicly withdrawing their support for the movement and joining forces with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the 2024 polls. Led by Akwasi Addae Odike, founder and leader of the Ghana Union Party, the group cited concerns over the movement’s direction and potential harm to the NPP in the upcoming elections.

At a press conference held today, October 16, 2024, the defectors revealed they initially supported Kyerematen’s vision but later realized his movement would damage their political careers. They emphasized Kyerematen’s success was largely due to the NPP, and his decision to break away was misguided. The group claimed to have organized his walks and campaign activities across the country but will no longer participate in movement-related events.

This development comes as Kyerematen’s movement seeks to challenge Ghana’s two major parties, with the elections just 54 days away. The move by these defectors may impact the movement’s momentum.

Interestingly, this isn’t the first time defectors have abandoned Kyerematen’s movement. In April 2024, approximately 6,000 young politicians returned to the NPP, admitting they made a mistake by leaving the party. The continuous defections may raise questions about the movement’s viability in the upcoming elections.