Former Sekondi Member of Parliament Andrew Egyapa Mercer has criticised what he describes as double standards in Ghanaian politics, particularly in the ongoing debate over losses incurred by the Bank of Ghana (BoG) and the reported $1.7 billion loss linked to the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod).

Speaking on Asempa FM, Mr Mercer said it was unfair for political actors to condemn BoG losses under the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration while defending similar losses under the current National Democratic Congress (NDC) government.

He said the BoG had previously been criticised for incurring losses while supporting the economy during the domestic debt exchange programme (DDEP), yet similar actions to support the currency were now being defended.

“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.”

Mr Mercer said the experience should serve as a lesson to both sides of the political divide, arguing that “useful national-interest policies” should not be politicised simply because of who is in government.

“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’
Mr Mercer also criticised what he described as the use of false claims and personal attacks in political discourse.

He referred to NDC attacks and false claims that NPP flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia owned, and was profiting from prepaid power purchases via Hubtel, expressing wonder at political actors who peddled the falsehood and were now taking offence at what they considered a mischaracterisation of the 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 urged politicians to prioritise facts over personal attacks.

“Let’s be led by truth in our politics, else the politics of slandering, character assassination [will be the end of us].”

A lawyer, he recalled that he had previously been wrongfully labelled a “PDS thief”.

Meanwhile, he explained that his legal fees in the matter had been paltry, emphasising he was not a director or shareholder of Power Distribution Services (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 the experience should remind politicians to be more cautious 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.”

Mr Mercer was reacting to the back-and-forth between GoldBod Chief Executive Sammy Gyamfi and NPP Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin.

Afenyo-Markin has repeatedly demanded answers over the reported $1.7 billion loss associated with GoldBod and has suggested that Sammy Gyamfi could face difficult bail conditions if arrested over the matter.

Mr Gyamfi, in response, has described Afenyo-Markin as an “extortionist,” saying the Minority Leader’s suggestion of his arrest exists only in his imagination.