Limited time forced me to contest 2024 election as independent candidate — Alan Kyerematen

United Party leader Alan Kyerematen opted to run as an independent candidate in the 2024 general election due to the limited time available to establish a new political party. Speaking to Joy Prime's Nathaniel Attoh, Kyerematen explained that creating a full party within the election timeframe would have been impractical. Instead, he formed the Movement for Change to serve as the platform for his independent presidential bid.

Kyerematen argued that Ghana's political system provided two viable paths for his ambition: contesting as a party candidate or running independently while leading a political organization. He chose the latter, stating that the Movement for Change allowed him to pursue his campaign without the lengthy process of setting up a conventional party.

Announcing his resignation from the NPP in September 2023, Kyerematen declared his intention to contest the 2024 election as an independent candidate under the Movement for Change. He unveiled the monarch butterfly, known as Afrafranto in Akan, as the movement's symbol and adopted the slogan "Ghana Will Rise Again." Reflecting on the campaign, Kyerematen noted that contesting independently required him to directly test his support among voters, unlike established parties that have guaranteed electoral backing.

He emphasized that the two dominant parties enjoy a level of electoral support due to their long-standing presence, while an independent candidate must actively convince voters to embrace a new political alternative. Kyerematen actively campaigned in communities, particularly in Accra and Kumasi, to gauge the response to his candidacy, describing the level of energy generated as "phenomenal" during the six-month campaign period.

He emphasized that the Movement for Change aimed to challenge Ghana's established two-party political system and promote an alternative focused on political and economic transformation.