Franklin Cudjoe Urges Alan Kyerematen to Champion Entrepreneurship Over Politics in UP Plus Campaign

Franklin Cudjoe, President of IMANI Africa, has advised Alan Kyerematen, leader of the newly rebranded United Party (UP Plus), to pivot his political messaging toward entrepreneurship and wealth creation to resonate with Ghanaian voters.

Speaking on Channel One TV’s The Big Issue on Saturday, October 18, Cudjoe emphasized that Kyerematen’s storied background in enterprise development could set his campaign apart as he gears up for the 2028 general elections.

“If Alan stays the course of understanding that his first love was enterprise, and he could turn that into something sellable… ‘I am here for you, the ordinary person.

I am here to give you the opportunity and teach the skills to help you save a little more,’ then that could work,” Cudjoe said. He urged Kyerematen to move beyond traditional political rhetoric, focusing instead on empowering Ghanaians to “build their own prosperity” through business-oriented policies.

Cudjoe’s remarks follow the high-profile launch of UP Plus, a rebranded iteration of Kyerematen’s Movement for Change, certified by the Electoral Commission on October 3.

The event, attended by supporters and dignitaries, saw Chairman Abubakar Saddique Boniface pitch UP Plus as a platform for credible, inclusive leadership rooted in competence and universal values. Kyerematen, a former Trade and Industry Minister, declared the party a “new dawn” for Ghana, promising a “golden age” of job creation, transparent governance, anti-corruption measures, and inclusive development.

The UP Plus, drawing inspiration from Ghana’s historical United Party, positions itself as a centrist alternative to the dominant New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC). Cudjoe cautioned, however, that its success hinges on a clear, practical vision.

“If Alan is able to move that message away from just saying ‘become members,’ then he can have a clear path,” he noted, highlighting the need for a compelling narrative around economic empowerment.

As Ghana’s political landscape heats up, Kyerematen’s enterprise-focused vision could tap into growing public demand for economic reforms, with recent data showing 67% of Ghanaians prioritize job creation over partisan loyalty.

Whether UP Plus can disrupt the two-party stronghold remains to be seen, but Cudjoe’s call underscores a hunger for policy-driven campaigns over traditional politicking.