Okyeame Kwame, the Ghanaian artiste, has disclosed that Alan Kyerematen approached him three months ago with an offer to be his running mate for the 2024 general elections.
Okyeame Kwame mentioned that Alan Kyerematen, founder of the ‘Movement for Change,’ presented a list of 10 criteria he believed the musician met, which led to his offer to make him his running mate.
However, Okyeame Kwame clarified that he turned down the tempting offer due to the various challenges associated with a political career. He expressed concerns about the potential for negative propaganda, security threats, and the intense public scrutiny that often accompanies political life. In an interview on November 16, 2024, the musician revealed that his decision was also influenced by the desire to protect his family’s well-being. Okyeame Kwame emphasized that while the opportunity was appealing, the personal and professional risks involved in politics outweighed the benefits for him at this stage in his life.
Okyeame Kwame explained, “Alan reached out to me while I was in Kumasi for an event. I went to see him, and he outlined the qualities he was looking for in a running mate. It was very flattering. They wanted someone who had achieved something significant, and with my 26 years in the music industry, I fit that profile. They also took into account personal factors like marriage and family.”
Okyeame Kwame shared that he had to decline the offer due to his family commitments, particularly because his children are teenagers. He explained, “If I decided to enter partisan politics, I would need to prepare my children for at least a year. I also had to consider the security risks: what if false propaganda was spread about me? What if my past was dug up? I hadn’t prepared my family for that kind of scrutiny and pressure, and I didn’t want to put them at risk.”
After Okyeame Kwame’s decision, Alan Kyerematen chose 40-year-old Elijah Kwame Owusu Danso as his running mate. Elijah, a former hip-hop artist and broadcaster with Pan African TV, is now a qualified lawyer.
