“We’re Not Bothered by Alan’s United Party” — NPP’s Richard Ahiagbah Declares

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has downplayed concerns about the emergence of the newly launched United Party (UP Plus), describing it as a non-issue in Ghana’s political space.

Speaking on Channel One TV’s The Big Issue on Saturday, October 18, NPP Director of Communications, Richard Ahiagbah, said the governing party has no reason to be alarmed by the formation of the centrist political group led by former Trade Minister, Alan Kyerematen.

“I don’t think there is anything for the NPP to be worried about,” Ahiagbah asserted. “The UP Party is not what they have formed. They say they have formed a centrist party — the values that define the UP tradition are not what they are claiming, so technically it is just a name.”

He added that the NPP has not held any formal meetings or internal discussions to respond to the launch of the new party.

“In fact, the NPP hasn’t sat to arrive at a decision to say we are calling them or chasing them here and there. If anybody said that, it is their personal opinion,” Ahiagbah explained.

His comments follow remarks by UP Plus General Secretary, Yaw Buaben Asamoa, who described the new party as “not just another third force” but a centrist movement aimed at breaking the NPP–NDC political duopoly.

According to Asamoa, UP Plus represents a platform for national renewal, institutional reform, and economic recovery — not a personal political vehicle for Alan Kyerematen.

“This is not Alan Kyerematen’s personal party. This is a movement galvanising public opinion around economic recovery,” he said.

UP Plus, which received official registration from the Electoral Commission on October 3, 2025, is a rebranded continuation of Kyerematen’s earlier political vehicle, the Movement for Change.

Its leadership includes former government officials and professionals from diverse backgrounds who argue that Ghana needs a new, inclusive direction beyond the existing political traditions.