'Double standards' - Ablakwa fires NPP over EC appointment controversy

Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has accused the opposition New Patriot Party (NPP) of double standards amid the ongoing debate on Electoral Commission appointments.

He argued that those who defended the practice under previous governments should not condemn it simply because political power has changed hands.

Ablakwa said he stood by his earlier criticism of appointments to the EC when the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was in opposition and expected others to maintain the same principles regardless of which party was in government.

Speaking on Joy News, amid the controversy surrounding Emelia Afi Agbenyo’s appointment as Deputy Chairperson of the EC, he said political consistency was essential to credible public debate.

“Those who are being consistent with us, who criticised this in years past, must be commended for being consistent,” he said.

However, he criticised those who previously defended similar appointments but were now condemning the current administration over the same practice.

“Those who did it, said there was nothing wrong, condemned us for criticising it, and now they’ve made a U-turn seeking to condemn us. Those double standards are not helpful in our public discourse,” he said.

Ablakwa maintained that his position on the appointment had not changed, insisting that the appearance of political influence over the electoral management body remained a legitimate concern.

He said political parties should apply the same standards to EC appointments whether they were in government or opposition, rather than changing their positions to suit their political interests.