Claim: Multiple sources alleged that Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, an independent presidential candidate in Ghana’s Dec. 7, 2024, election, snubbed the country’s former President John Agyekum Kufuor at a funeral in Kumasi.
Verdict: Misleading. JUSTFACT GHANA’s investigation showed that the ex-Ghanaian Trade Minister, Alan Kyerematen, did not snub the ex-President John Kufuor as alleged. A review of the footage from the event showed the Movement for Change leader had earlier greeted Mr Kufuor at the ceremony when he was seated alone. However, Mr Kyerematen did not greet the ex-president again when he exchanged pleasantries with the new attendees who had now surrounded Mr Kufuor.
Background
Multiple sources have alleged that the Movement for Change leader Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen ignored ex-Ghanaian President John Agyekum Kufuor at Kwame Addo Kufour Junior’s funeral in Kumasi.
The social media posts were accompanied by a video clip from the ceremony which showed Mr Kyerematen shaking hands with some funeral attendees and skipped the ex-Ghanaian leader.
See here, here, here, here, here, and here for social media posts about the ex-Trade Minister snubbing Mr Kufuor.
The funeral of Kwame Addo Kufuor Junior was held at the St. Cyprian’s Anglican Church in Kumasi on Dec. 19, 2024.
The speculation may have been fuelled by the exchanges between the two political figures in the heat of the 2024 General Election when Mr Kufuor declared support for Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP)’s Presidential candidate.
See here for Mr Kufuor’s endorsement of Bawumia and here for Mr Kyerematen’s reaction to the endorsement.
Mr. Kyerematen served as a trades minister under President Kufuor, who defeated John Evans Atta Mills of the then-governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) to win the 2000 Presidential election on the NPP’s ticket.
Reacting to the purported snubbing of Mr Kufuor, an X user, Kofi Abenaba, wrote, “This show[s] the pains he has in his heart.”
Another X user, Mr Opare, added “And he wanted to lead his party, with this attitude? Tueh”
Investigation
JUSTFACT GHANA’s investigation showed that the ex-Ghanaian Trade Minister, Alan Kyerematen, did not snub the ex-President John Kufuor as alleged.
A review of the footage from the event showed the Movement for Change leader had earlier greeted Mr Kufuor at the ceremony when he was seated alone.
See here for the footage where Mr Kyerematen walked to the ex-Ghanaian President and shook hands with him.
Watch from minutes 0:01 to 0:09 of the video shared on Accra-based Citi FM’s Facebook page on Dec. 20, 2024.
Also, see here for a similar video showing the two politicians shaking hands, shared on Facebook by Accra-based Adom FM.
An analysis of the footage revealed that Mr Kufuor was seated alone when Mr Kyerematen greeted him.
However, Mr Kyerematen did not greet the ex-president again when he exchanged pleasantries with the new attendees, including the Apagyahene, who had now surrounded Mr Kufuor.
See here for the second footage where Mr Kyerematen shook hands with the occupants of the then empty seats by the ex-Ghanaian leader.
Watch from minutes 0:01 to 0:08 of the video shared on X by Adom FM.
Writing on the subject on Facebook on Dec. 20, 2024, Ghana’s state-owned newspaper, Daily Graphic, confirmed the two leaders had earlier exchanged greetings.
“Mr Kyerematen had earlier greeted President Kufuor at the time the Apagyahene sitting next to Mr Kufuor had not taken his seat. So, when Alan went back to greet the Apagyahene, he passed because he had earlier greeted former President Kufuor,” the media outlet said.
Conclusion
Ex-Ghanaian Trade Minister Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen did not snub ex-President John Agyekum Kufuor at Kwame Addo Kufour Junior’s funeral in Kumasi, as alleged.
