The former commerce minister of Ghana, Alan John Kyerematen, announced on Monday, September 26, 2023 that he will leave the ruling party and Minister as an independent in the upcoming presidential election in December 2024, causing a rift inside the administration as it struggles to deal with the greatest economic crisis in a generation and lose support from the public.

The statement was revealed at a briefing by Kyeremanten, the New Patriotic Party‘s (NPP) twice-serving trade minister, who said his efforts were not valued. In January, he had already tendered his resignation as a minister.

“The new movement will be led and powered by the youth,” he told his supporters at the event.

“The (NPP) party has been hijacked by a selected group of party leaders and elders,” he uttered.

The NPP described Kyeremanten’s resignation as “unfortunate” in a statement. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Accra last week for three days of anti-government protests linked to economic hardship.

Last year, violence between protesters and police over price hikes and other economic issues prompted the government to request assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Since then, the administration has concentrated on debt restructuring and budget cuts to qualify for a $3 billion, three-year IMF loan program.

Critics claimed that the government hasn’t done enough to assist individuals who are having a hard time making ends meet as economic growth slows.

After serving two terms, President Nana Afuko-Addo will step down, but the NPP has not yet disclosed who will succeed him.