Ketu North MP Edem Agbana has accused the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of changing its claims about the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa in an attempt to discredit Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
Speaking on TV3’s New Day, hosted by Roland Walker, Agbana said the Minority had repeatedly changed its position on the number of evacuees whose records it believed could be accounted for.
“The NPP, just like any group of persons, has the right to demand accountability from public officers. Indeed, the democracy that we all seek to protect can only thrive when accountability becomes the bedrock of our democracy,” he said.
However, he accused the party of turning its demand for accountability into a political attack on Ablakwa.
“There is a fundamental difference between demanding accountability in the public interest and a calculated smear campaign. And that is what the NPP is engaging in,” Agbana stated.
The MP recalled that the Minority initially claimed that only 824 of the 1,964 Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa could be accounted for. According to him, the caucus used the difference of 1,140 people to allege that the state had suffered a financial loss of GH¢6.2 million.
He questioned why the figures had changed, arguing that the Minority was now presenting a different number.
“Initially, you said 824 out of the 1,964 is all that could be accounted for. Was that not the position of the Minority? So today, where is the 1,500 coming from?” he asked.
Agbana said the changing figures undermined the credibility of the allegations against Ablakwa and accused the NPP of repeatedly shifting its focus whenever one of its claims was challenged.
He also questioned the basis for the Minority’s demand that Ablakwa resign, recalling that the caucus had previously said it was not accusing the minister of wrongdoing.
“Some two weeks ago, they said that Ablakwa had done nothing wrong. Yesterday, on what grounds were they demanding his resignation?” he asked.
The MP maintained that calls for accountability were legitimate but insisted that allegations against public officials should be supported by consistent claims and evidence.
“If you want to demand accountability, do it intelligently and diligently,” Agbana said.
