Former Sekondi MP Andrew Egyapa Mercer has criticised what he describes as political double standards in the debate over losses incurred by the Bank of Ghana (BoG) and the reported $1.7 billion loss associated with the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod).
Speaking on Asempa FM, Mercer questioned why losses incurred by the central bank were strongly condemned under the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration but are now being defended under the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government.
He said the BoG had previously faced intense criticism over losses incurred while supporting the economy during the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP), while similar actions aimed at supporting the currency are now being presented differently.
“The kind of politics we do in this country gets really disgusting sometimes. So it’s okay today for the Bank of Ghana to make a loss to prop up or stabilize our currency, right? But only three or four years [ago], it was terrible for Bank of Ghana to incur losses during the domestic debt exchange programme to save the economy of Ghana,” he said.
Mercer argued that national-interest policies should not become political weapons depending on which party is in power.
“Let’s not bastardise it to the point we do when we want power. Because, ultimately, when the shoes get on the other foot and you become the victim, huge [damaging] press conferences will be the response,” he added.
‘Let’s be led by truth’
The former MP also criticised the use of what he described as false claims and personal attacks in political debates.
He cited allegations previously made against NPP flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia over the ownership of Hubtel and claims that he benefited from prepaid electricity purchases through the platform.
Mercer said those allegations were false and questioned why political actors who had made such claims were now offended by what he considers factual descriptions of the reported GoldBod and BoG losses.
“Barefaced lie. You said all sort of things for power. Today, you are describing a matter of facts – not lies – in a public document as mere mischaracterisation and you are greatly offended,” he said.
He urged politicians to focus on facts rather than personal attacks and accusations.
“Let’s be led by truth in our politics, else the politics of slandering, character assassination [will be the end of us],” he stated.
Mercer also recalled being labelled a “PDS thief” during controversy surrounding Power Distribution Services (PDS), saying the accusation was unfair.
He explained that although his name appeared in disclosures connected to one of the consortium partners, he was neither a director nor shareholder of PDS.
“But just because my name found its way in as part of the disclosures, in one of the consortium partners… [Meanwhile] PDS had its own directors and shareholders, of which I am not part,” he said.
According to Mercer, the experience should encourage politicians to exercise greater caution before making allegations against their opponents.
“What was done to one will be done to another. Let’s be patient and slow down on the hearsay and address the issues,” he added.
Mercer’s comments come amid a continuing public dispute between GoldBod Chief Executive Sammy Gyamfi and NPP Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin over the reported $1.7 billion loss associated with the gold purchase programme.
Afenyo-Markin has repeatedly demanded explanations over the reported losses and has raised the possibility of Sammy Gyamfi facing difficult bail conditions if arrested in connection with the matter.
Gyamfi has responded by describing Afenyo-Markin as an “extortionist” and dismissing suggestions of his arrest as something existing only in the Minority Leader’s imagination.
