The
Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper has taken a swipe at
politicians who are scheming to derail the democratic credentials of the
country, stating the height of incendiary comments is “frightening”. Mr
Pratt said Ghanaians must rise up and stem the tide before the whole
nation is plunged into the abyss of violence and genocide like other
African nations.
Speaking at a public debate under the auspices
of the Forum for Governance and Justice in Accra, Mr Pratt bemoaned the
spate at which hate-speeches permeate the political and media landscapes
in Ghana. In his view, the situation is escalating because of the quest
of self-seeking politicians to win political power by fair or foul
means.
He condemned the inciting comments made by the Member of
Parliament of Assin North, Kennedy Agyapong, describing it as reckless.
Mr Agyapong has been charged with treason felony, attempted genocide and
engaging in acts of terrorism for inciting Ashantis against Gas and
Ewes. A human rights court and an Accra Fast Track High court granted
him bail last week to the tune of GHS400,000. He has also been bonded to
be of good behaviour.
But delivering a speech on the topic:
Hate-Speech and Incitement to Genocide, the veteran journalist said, “we
should not allow anybody to destroy what patriots like Nkrumah and
others put together.” He alleged that such occurrences are the
continuation of what Nkrumah’s opponents did prior to his overthrow in
1966.
He is therefore calling on the Ghanaian populace to stand
against any politician, who preaches violence, stating: “this is the
time for the masses, and the masses must act to save our country.”
Mr
Pratt said politicians hire ordinary Ghanaians to engage in unlawful
acts on their behalf in their thirst for power. He cautioned therefore
that: “you must be extremely foolish to accept GHS 100 to go and fight.
Taking money to go and fight is an extremely foolish enterprise.”
“If all-die-be-die is a good thing, then it should be done by the
presidential candidates and their running-mates. Anytime people break
heads and light themselves, check the faces of those involved. You will
not see the presidential candidate; you will not see the running-mate,
you will not see the businessmen…”
Mr Pratt, an avowed
Nkrumahist affirmed that the “recklessness of those who want power by
all and any means [must be] prevented” to forestall any trouble ahead of
the December polls.
“Ghanaians are getting fed up with
politicians who think that they can say these things and go scot free…
It is important for decent Ghanaians to condemn it.
“The
salvation of this country is not the business of the Bar Association
alone, the salvation of this country is not the business of the chiefs
alone, the salvation of this country is not the business of those who
put on the cassock. It is the business of every Ghanaian,” Kwesi Pratt
said.
He slammed civil society groups for looking on while the
country’s reputation is dented with irresponsible commentary by
politicians. He said over the years, “these institutions have been
working to maintain the status quo, which is destroying the nation.”
He
said such groups do not have better morals than teachers nor taxi
drivers and therefore should not be relied upon to champion such course.
Mr
Pratt went onto condemn comments by former Supreme Court judge, Justice
Kpegah, that Ewes were ready for any onslaught by the Ashantis, saying
one does not correct a wrong by doing wrong. He called on Ghanaians to
stand up against such misguided statements for the sake of posterity.
Another
speaker at the forum, Major General Henry Kwami Anyidoho (Rtd.), said
Ghana is experiencing signs of the irresponsible actions of the media
and the ethnic groups that led to the death of many in Rwanda.
Maj.
General Anyidoho who headed Ghana’s UN Peace keeping Mission in Rwanda
during the genocide advised the media to be circumspect in their
reportage. He also called on politicians to eschew inflammatory
comments.
At the end of the forum, patrons were treated to the
movie titled, Hotel Rwanda, which tells the story about the millions of
Hutus and Tutsis who perished in the Rwandan genocide in 1994. |
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