'Petitioning foreign missions is not selling Ghana out' – Kwesi Botchwey Jr to 'hypocrite' NDC

A Deputy National Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwesi Botchwey Jr, has accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of hypocrisy over its criticism of the NPP’s petition to the United States Mission on Ghana’s diplomatic and service passports.

He argued that the NDC had also petitioned foreign missions on several occasions while in opposition and should not portray the NPP’s action as an attempt to undermine Ghana’s international reputation.

His comments follow remarks by NDC Deputy National Communications Officer Julius Kwame Anthony, who accused the NPP of seeking to deny Ghanaian government officials diplomatic courtesies because the party is no longer in power.

The NPP has petitioned the US Mission in Ghana to suspend diplomatic courtesies for holders of Ghanaian diplomatic and service passports it alleges were issued irregularly.

In a letter dated October 30, and signed by its General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, the party cited six individuals whose service passports were approved as officials of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and the Fisheries Commission.

Speaking on Accra-based Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana programme on Monday, November 2, Botchwey Jr cited previous instances in which the NDC petitioned diplomatic missions and international organisations over issues involving Ghana.

He mentioned a 2005 petition concerning the representation of the People's Bill, the NDC's complaint to diplomatic missions in January 2017 over alleged attacks on its members during the 2016 elections, and another petition following the 2020 elections.

He also cited a February 2022 petition to the Commonwealth Secretariat over alleged human rights violations and political persecution under the Akufo-Addo administration.

“Today, the NDC wants us to believe that if you petition the diplomatic community, then it means you are selling your country out. In 2005, Professor John Evans Atta Mills and other NDC leaders met with the US Embassy. In fact, they petitioned the US Embassy,” he said.

Botchwey Jr stressed that petitions to foreign missions are legitimate means for political parties to express grievances and demand accountability, rather than evidence of disloyalty to the country.

“Let us not reduce petitions to diplomatic embassies or the diplomatic community as though the opposition is trying to sell the nation out. It is a way to express a grievance and to call for accountability,” he added.