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Claim: Multiple claims here, here, and here say Alan Kyerematen, a 2024 independent presidential candidate in Ghana, will spearhead the new government’s 24-hour economy policy.
Verdict: False. DUBAWA’s checks with the country’s Office of the President revealed the purported appointment is false. Felix Kwakye-Ofosu, President John Mahama’s Spokesperson, dismissed the claim as untrue. Mr Kyerematen’s office has also encouraged Ghanaians to disregard the rumour.
Full Text
Some social media users claimed Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, the Movement for Change 2024 presidential candidate, has been appointed to oversee the new government’s flagship 24-hour economy policy.
President John Mahama came to power amid the country’s economic decline and promised to implement a 24-hour economy policy to create more jobs and businesses.
“The core of the Mahama 24-Hour Economy initiative revolves around transforming Ghana into a self-sufficient and export-led economy through a three-shift work schedule,” Mahama told business magnates in the heat of the Dec. 7, 2024, elections.
Mr Kyerematen served as Trades Minister in President Nana Akufo-Addo’s erstwhile government for nearly eight years before resigning to pursue his presidential ambitions.
He later resigned from the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) over some grievances and formed the Movement for Change.
Ghana’s Electoral Commission revealed that Kyerematen placed fourth in the Dec. 7, 2024, presidential election, polling 32,457 out of the total valid votes of 11,683,483. The EC has said this represented 0.28% of the total valid votes cast from 275 out of 276 constituencies.
However, nearly a month after the crucial poll, some social media users here, here, and here claimed Mahama, the ultimate victor with 6,591,790 of the total valid votes cast, has appointed Kyerematen to head the 24-Hour Economy Secretariat, his flagship programme.
The social media platforms showed the posts have recorded over 230,000 combined views, 14,000 reposts and 34,433 likes.
DUBAWA decided to probe the claim as part of its campaign against misinformation and disinformation in Ghana.
Verification
DUBAWA’s checks with the country’s Office of the President revealed the purported appointment is false.
Felix Kwakye-Ofosu, the Spokesperson of President John Mahama, has dismissed the claim as false.
Felix said he had not posted anyone’s appointment on social media.
In an X post on Jan. 17, 2024, the Abura Asebu-Kwamankese Member of Parliament (MP) cautioned Ghanaians to “disregard any list attributed to me” not posted on his page.
Also, Kyerematen’s office has encouraged Ghanaians to ignore the rumour on social media.
Reacting to the claim in a statement, Kwame Owusu Danso, an Aide to Kyerematen, described the report as a “blatant attempt to create confusion and misinformation.”
A further check by DUBAWA showed Koku Anyidoho, one of the people who shared the purported appointment on X, had deleted his post.
Conclusion
Ghana’s new President, John Mahama, has not appointed Alan Kyerematen, a 2024 presidential opponent, to head his 24-Hour Economy flagship programme.
