Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, Minister of Trade and Industry, has resigned from the government.
Mr Kyerematen is believed to have presented his resignation to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Thursday, January 5.
The President accepted the resignation letter.
Mr Kyerematen has previously run for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearership, losing all three times to Nana Akufo-Addo.
In 2007, he had to accept defeat in order to avert a third round of voting at the University of Ghana, Legon, where the infamous 17 candidates, including then-Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama, were running.
Mr Kyerematen's prospects have subsequently plummeted as his votes continue to fall with each try, and he failed to run at all when nominations ended in 2020.
The former Ghana Ambassador to the United States is expected to return to the race and launch a campaign for the primaries later this year, as the ruling party prepares to name a new candidate for the 2024 elections. President Akufo-Addo has completed his eight-year tenure.
Vice President Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia will be his most formidable opponent, with many party insiders tipping him to be the NPP's new face on the ballot paper.
However, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong and Kwabena Agyei Agyapong have proclaimed their willingness to run in the 2023 presidential primary.
Former Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko and former Mampong MP Francis Addai Nimoh are on the periphery.