the man alan
early life & Education
Alan Kyerematen is a prominent Ghanaian statesman with a rich career in corporate executive management, international trade, public policy, small and medium enterprise development, politics, diplomacy, and law. He was born on October 3, 1955, in Kumasi, Ghana, to Dr. Alexander Atta Yaw Kyerematen, a renowned social anthropologist, and Mrs. Victoria Kyerematen (née Welsing), an accomplished educationist.
Alan started school at the early age of four years at the State Experimental School in Kumasi and subsequently entered secondary school at a record age of nine years. Alan completed his secondary education at Adisadel College and Achimota School of Cape Coast and Accra, respectively, both leading second-cycle institutions in Ghana. He then pursued a degree in Economics at the University of Ghana and qualified as a Barrister-at-Law from the Ghana Law School. Alan also received the Hubert Humphrey Fellowship under the US Fulbright Fellowship Program and studied at the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Affairs and School of Management.
political Career
Alan Kyerematen has had a distinguished career in Ghanaian politics for a period of over three decades.
As a founding member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Alan was one of the key strategists of the Party since its inception in 1992 and served on the highest decision-making body of the Party over the years. He played a significant role in all the electoral campaigns of the party since the return to multi-party democratic governance in Ghana in 1992.
Alan served as Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States from 2001 to 2003. In that role, he negotiated various landmark trade and investment agreements between Ghana and the United States and initiated the establishment of the Ghana-United States Economic Council, which played a strategic role in deepening trade relations between the two countries and resolving commercial disputes through extrajudicial processes.
As Ghana’s Minister for Trade, Industry, and Presidential Special Initiatives from 2003 to 2007, he led the design, development, and implementation of innovative programs and special interventions that have become new strategic pillars of growth for the Ghanaian economy. He also played a key role in shaping Africa’s Trade Policy agenda in the WTO, the EU-ACP Economic Partnership Negotiations, AGOA, and UNCTAD.
Alan Kyerematen was appointed Minster for Trade and Industry for a second time from 2017 until 2023, making him Ghana’s longest-serving Trade Minister. Over that period, he led the implementation of the Government of Ghana’s Industrial Transformation Agenda, which included the One District One Factory (1D1F) Initiative, the Strategic Anchor Industries Initiative, the formulation and implementation of the National Export Development Strategy and the establishment of Industrial Parks and Special Economic Zones (SEZs). During his tenure as Minster, Alan also successfully led Ghana’s bid to host the Headquarters/Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
In September 2023, Alan announced his resignation from the NPP, founded the Movement for Change, and announced his candidacy to contest as a Presidential Candidate in the General Elections scheduled for December 2024.
The Movement for Change (M4C), which is powered and led by the youth of Ghana, is a political organization whose establishment was inspired by the overwhelming demand by Ghanaians from all backgrounds for change and to transform Ghana into a prosperous, united, and peaceful nation.
Professional Career
Alan began his professional career as a manager with UAC Ghana, then a subsidiary of Unilever International, at the record age of twenty-two and served with distinction in various managerial roles in the company.
Subsequently he worked for several years as a Principal Consultant and Head of Public Systems Management with one of the leading management development institutions in Ghana, the Management Development and Productivity Institute (MDPI). In that role, he led the various multi-disciplinary teams to undertake major consulting assignments for Government in the restructuring a number Public-Sector Institutions and State-Owned Enterprises.
In 1990, the United Nations recruited Alan to establish and manage the EMPRETEC Programme in Ghana, a business development programme for nurturing high-growth small and medium scale enterprises. The programme was co-funded by Barclays Bank PLC. Alan succeeded in transitioning EMPRETEC to an independent Foundation and served as its founding Chief Executive.
In 1998, UNDP appointed Alan the first Regional Director of Enterprise Africa, which was UNDP’s Africa-wide, flagship initiative for the development and promotion of small and medium enterprises. Under that framework, he expanded his previous work in Ghana under EMPRETEC and established enterprise support institutions and programmes in 12 other Sub-Saharan Africa countries – Botswana, Benin, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, and Uganda. Over 8,000 African entrepreneurs and small businesses have benefited from these programmes to date.
achievements
Alan Kyerematen made significant strides in driving economic growth and development in his country between 2016 and 2023. Serving as the Minister of Trade and Industry, he spearheaded the implementation of policies aimed at promoting industrialization at the district level through the One-District-One-Factory policy, which has resulted in the establishment of several new factories across Ghana. Furthermore, he played a key role in establishing the Ghana EXIM Bank, which has provided critical financing and risk mitigation support to Ghanaian exporters, thereby promoting Ghana’s exports and increasing the country’s foreign exchange earnings. Through his negotiations of new trade agreements with other countries, Alan Kyerematen helped boost trade and investment opportunities between Ghana and its partners. He worked towards developing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFTcA). Kyerematen was instrumental in leading Ghana’s efforts to ratify the AFTcA agreement and advocating for its implementation across the continent.
Alan Kyerematen has made significant contributions to Ghana’s economic growth and development, both in the private and public sectors. He is a founding member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), one of Ghana’s leading political parties. With these achievements, Kyerematen has cemented his reputation as a visionary leader committed to driving Ghana’s economic growth and development. Alan is married to Patricia Christabel Kyerematen (née Kingsley-Nyinah), and they are blessed with two sons, Alex and Victor.
1
Change Maker | 2023
Founded the Movement for Change, to shape Ghana's future.
2
AfCFTA Leader | 2017-2023
Led the setting up of AfCFTA.
3
Industrial Revolution | 2017-2023
Led Ghana's "One-District-One-Factory" initiative
7
Export Champion | 2019
Played a key role in establishing the Ghana EXIM Bank
5
Trade Dealmaker| 2021-2023
Secured impactful trade agreements with USA & other countries
6
US-Africa Relations | 2001-2003
Established the Ghana-US Economic Council
7
Global Trade Influencer | 1990’s-2000’s
Shaped Africa's Trade Policy agenda at the WTO, EU-ACP agreements, and UNCTAD.
8
Empowering Entrepreneurs| 1990s
Founded EMPRETEC, supporting thousands of African businesses
9
Business Acumen | 1970s
Youngest manager at UAC Ghana, showcasing early leadership
Statuses
He spearheaded initiatives like the 1D1F and AfCFTA, demonstrating a clear vision for Ghana’s economic future.
He translated his vision into concrete results, by playing a key role in the establishing institutions like the EXIM bank and securing trade deals.
He fostered entrepreneurship through EMPRETEC and demonstrated business acumen in his early career.
His contributions to global trade policy and negotiations show a deep understanding of complex economic landscapes.
His long tenure in public service and founding of the Movement for Change highlight his commitment to Ghana’s development.
