Renowned Ghanaian musician and songwriter Okyeame Kwame has shared that he declined an offer to be the running mate of John Alan Kyerematen, the Presidential Candidate for the Movement for Change, in the 2024 general elections. Speaking on Joy FM’s Showbiz A-Z, he provided insight into his reasons for turning down the opportunity.

Okyeame Kwame revealed that the proposal came during an event in Kumasi, where Kyerematen laid out ten qualities he sought in a running mate. Among these were being educated, having a background in development, being active on social media, and being married. While he appreciated the offer, Okyeame Kwame decided not to accept it due to personal and family considerations.

“My children are teenagers. My son is 15, and my daughter is 13. If I were to go into partisan politics, I would need to prepare them for at least a year,” he explained. He highlighted that the safety and well-being of his family were his main concerns and not something he was willing to compromise for a political role.

He also expressed worries about the potential backlash his family might endure, including misinformation and political attacks. “I had to think about security: what if people spread false propaganda about you? What if they dug up your skeletons? Had I prepared my family to deal with that kind of pressure? No. And because of that, I didn’t want to put my family in jeopardy,” he added.

Following Okyeame Kwame’s decision, Alan Kyerematen chose Elijah Kwame Owusu Danso, a 40-year-old lawyer and broadcaster, as his running mate. Interestingly, Elijah has a background in hip-hop music, which adds a creative dimension to his professional achievements.