A communications team member of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Fred Agbenyo, has described as “hypocritical” the avalanche of praises being showered on the 2012 presidential candidate of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo, after the presidential election petition.

"We should not give the glory to one person as if he had any other choice than to go to court. You should remember that President Mahama played a pivotal role and needs to be commended too," he stressed.

Fred Agbenyo expressed these sentiments on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Wednesday, September 11.

Akufo-Addo immediately accepted defeat after the Supreme Court dismissed the election petition he filed with two others to challenge the legitimacy of President John Mahama, though he had reservations about the verdict.

His magnanimous concession after the Supreme Court verdict in such a landmark case has been seen as a selfless act of patriotism by many dignitaries both home and abroad.

The most recent commendations came from Ambassador Said Djinnit, a Special Representative of the United Nations (UN) Secretary General for West Africa, and Former South African President, F.W. de Klerk, who have lauded Akufo-Addo for putting his country first.

But Fred Agbenyo on Ekosii sen expressed grave worry about the one-sided praise singing.

"If you are commending people for keeping Ghana’s peace, do it across board not one sided as if no one contributed".

According to him, President Mahama whose legitimacy was being challenged despite being declared winner by the Electoral Commission deserves commendation for showing maturity during the hearing of the court case.

Fred Agbenyo said the President could have used his veto power to frustrate the process but as a firm believer in the judicial process, he [Mahama] allowed the NPP to embark on its "fruitless exercise".

The NDC activist recalled how President Mahama had to put up with incessant provocations from members of the NPP after the 2012 elections and yet people have failed to acknowledge him for being tolerant.

"If nobody will commend His Excellency President Mahama and especially the followers of NDC, I will do it. There were people who openly called him a thief; there were those who composed songs and made all manner of allegations against him but he exercised a lot of restraint".

He bemoaned the impression being created as though Nana Akufo-Addo salvage Ghana from being plunged into chaos when in fact all the petition did was to increase the country’s economic woes.

Fred Agbenyo maintains that the election petition "was a complete waste of time".