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Tag: Kwesi Pratt Jnr

  • Fighting coronavirus more important than education, close schools – Kwesi Pratt

    “What’s the essence of opening schools while the (Coronavirus) disease keeps spreading?,” Kwesi Pratt Jnr has asked the government and education authorities in the country.

    The COVID-19 infections have pumped fear in the country and particularly when the disease has affected various schools, many people have raised concerns over the sort of incorrigible habit of the government to close down the schools.

    Following the President’s announcement for schools to reopen and the pragmatic measures by the Ministry of Education and Ghana Education Service (GES) to enforce the COVID-19 safety protocols, some students and staff have however tested positive for the disease.

    In Accra Girls’ Senior High School alone, about 55 students and staff have reportedly tested positive for the disease, according to the Director-General of GEA, Prof. Kwasi Opoku Amankwah.

    Other schools affected by the COVID-19 are Odorgonor, Konongo Wesley and Mfantsipim Senior High Schools.

    A student at the KNUST SHS was also abandoned by the school authorities to die amidst speculations he had the disease.

    Some parents of the school children as well as members of opposition parties, particularly the National Democratic Congress (NDC), have called on President Nana Akufo-Addo to close the schools to salvage the situation but their calls have fallen on deaf ears.

    Adding his voice to the incessant calls on the President, Kwesi Pratt noted that the academic calendar could be suspended till the disease is over or rather the final year students’ performance could be examined using their continuous assessment without necessarily making them write their final exams.

    He stated emphatically that nothing will happen to the students’ education if they are called back home.

    Mr. Pratt wondered why the students should remain in schools when there is an outbreak of the disease on the various campuses.

    “I’ve pondered on it but simply cannot understand it. So, the leaders in Ghana, those with knowledge in education are all sitting aloof for this to be done. Look at the danger you’re exposing the children to…Fighting the disease should be our top priority. It is more important than preparing our children for the next level of their education…the disease is more important than anything else. We can tackle any other thing after fighting against the disease,” he told Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’.

    Source: Peace FM

     

  • What sin have we committed for you to treat us this way? – Kwesi Pratt to Akufo-Addo

    Kwesi Pratt has castigated NPP National Youth Organizer, Henry Nana Boakye and the Electoral Commission (EC) for moving into some Senior High Schools (SHS) in the country to campaign.

    The Electoral Commission (EC) last week went to some schools to register eligible students across the country.

    The two day special exercise targeted the final year students and those in form-two gold track who were 18 or more but cannot join the main registration exercise because they are in school.

    There have been calls from the National Council of Parent-Teacher Associations of Ghana for the government to close down schools and allow students to return home.

    Some Senior High Schools have recorded Coronavirus in recent weeks, causing parents to panic.

    The Accra Technical University was the first to record a case after a National Service Personnel contracted the virus.

    The Ghana Education Service has also disclosed that 55 students and staff at the Accra Girls SHS have tested positive for COVID-19.

    Meanwhile, over five secondary schools in the Western region have also had their students infected.

    Henry Nana Boakye, popularly known as Nana B was also spotted addressing some SHS students despite President Nana Akufo-Addo’s directive that no outsider including parents should be allowed to visit students.

    Nana B has come under a barrage of criticisms for going to the schools.

    Coming to his own defence, Nana B explained why he went to the schools saying the “Electoral Commission officials, Political Party representatives, and observer groups were permitted to enter the various Second Cycle institutions during the registration exercise which lasted for just two days”.

    “Indeed, just like all other political party representatives and officials of the Electoral Commission, I visited the Senior High Schools with accreditation from the EC as a party official. It is important to note that my actions did not in any way flout laid down rules and regulations governing the exercise,” he added.

    He further stated, in an interview with Hello FM in Kumasi, that “I didn’t go there to campaign”, stressing “I have accreditation from the Electoral Commission (EC) to monitor the registration and that was what I went there to do”.

    Kwesi Pratt is however unconvinced by the explanations by the NPP National Youth Organizer and the EC to justify their actions.

    Speaking on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’, he wondered why parents and guardians cannot visit their wards but the Electoral Commission deemed it useful to conduct a registration exercise for the students which consequently saw political party members trooping into the schools.

    ”If the parents won’t be allowed to go the schools because they’re protecting the children. If they even were metal masks, they won’t be allowed to go there; how come political party agents were able to enter the schools? Why do you give political party agents the chance to go to the schools? What are they going to do there? What triggered us to go to the schools to do voter registration? What’s wrong with us?” he questioned.

    Mr. Pratt fumed as he further asked; ”What sin have we, Ghanaians, committed against our leaders for them to treat us this way?”

    Disclaimer

  • Coronavirus: Postmortem on every dead person would reveal terrifying figures – Kwesi Pratt

    Managing Editor of Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr says a postmortem must be conducted on all dead bodies in the country.

    Ghana has recorded 23, 834 cases of COVID-19 with 19,212 recoveries and 135 deaths.

    Out of the confirmed cases, 9,556 were detected through routine surveillance whilst the other 14,278 through contact tracing.

    According to him, there are communities in the country, particularly the Zongo areas, where deceased people are immediately buried, but he would have the government to order for an autopsy to be done on all dead bodies believing there will be new additions to the COVID-19 figures.

    “In COVID-19, postmortem must be carried out on every dead person. First of all, to enable us see the extent; to enable us determine the nature of the disease and so on. But up till date, there are a lot of communities that when a person dies, the deceased within three to four hours would be buried.”

    “So, all those figures are not recorded…If we should test every dead body and so on, maybe we would see terrifying figures,” he said.

    Source: Peace FM

  • Ghana has never had a completely new register, EC’s registration exercise unprecedented – Kwesi Pratt

    Seasoned journalist, Kwesi Pratt says EC’s compilation of a new voters’ register is unprecedented and first of its kind.

    The Electoral Commission (EC) commenced its new voters’ registration exercise on Tuesday, June 30.

    The exercise is aimed at compiling a new voters’ register for the upcoming general elections and subsequent elections.

    Before the exercise, there were lots of controversies over whether it is relevant for the electoral management body to compile a new register or rather review the old register.

    The EC was saddled with lawsuits but a 7-member panel presided by the Chief Justice unanimously ruled that the Commission is an independent body and has not acted in contravention of its mandate as enshrined in the 1992 constitution.

    This ruling, therefore, empowered the EC to begin the exercise.

    Making his submissions on Tuesday’s ‘Kokrokoo’ on Peace FM, Kwesi Pratt noted that there’s never been a time in the history of Ghana where an entirely new voters’ register has been compiled.

    According to him, previous registers were not newly compiled because the EC accepted the old voter ID card as a source document for registration.

    To him, once the old voter ID card is used to register, the voters’ register doesn’t become a new one but rather a review by the EC.

    ”Today, the old ID card has been excluded. The old register has no relevance to the compilation of a new register. So, this is a unique exercise. It has never happened before; we’re writing an entirely new register”, he said.

    But speaking on the same program, the National Organizer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Henry Nana Boakye a.k.a Nana B disagreed with Kwesi Pratt’s assertion.

    Nana B stressed a new voters’ register has been compiled four times in the country.

    Kwesi Pratt however replied the NPP National Organizer saying his statement is a distortion of the facts.

    “We’ve never compiled an entirely new register, never . . . In the past, when the register is opened, you could use your old ID card as a source document. So, that process amounts to a review of the register,” he insisted.

    Source: Peace FM

  • Why didn’t Adwoa Safo go unopposed? – Kwesi Pratt asks NPP leadership

    Kwesi Pratt Jnr, Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, has rebuked the leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for protecting some Members of Parliament (MPs) by ensuring they contested the party’s primaries unopposed.

    Sitting MPs in some constituencies were unanimously not contested by any person during the primaries that ended on Saturday, making them have an easy ride to be re-elected to represent the NPP in Parliament.

    Among the MPs that went unopposed were the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu for Suame constituency, Manhyia South MP and Education Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, William Owuraku Aidoo for Afigya Kwabre South, Francis Manu Adabor, Ahafo Ano South East, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, Bosomtwe and MP for Afigya Kwabre East, Ms Mavis Nkansah Boadu who was the only female MP that went unopposed among others.

    But the seasoned journalist believes even if the party deems it suitable for some members to go unopposed, although he is against such decision, it should however cover all others.

    He thus wondered why the Dome-Kwabenya MP and Deputy Majoriy Leader, Adwoa Safo wasn’t protected by the NPP leadership if indeed it’s a sound judgement for some MPs to go unopposed.

    Lawyer Adwoa Safo won the primaries by polling 496 votes while her competitor who is the son of the Speaker of Parliament and Ghana’s High Commissioner to India, Lawyer Mike Ocquaye Jnr polled 488 votes.

    Speaking on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’ programme, Kwesi Pratt asked the NPP leadership “why didn’t they protect Adwoa Safo? Because Adwoa Safo is not an ordinary MP but also a Deputy Majority Leader who does her work effectively. So, while we were protecting, why didn’t anybody give Adwoa Safo any protection as well?”

    He, therefore, advised the NPP to give a fair opportunity for every eligible person within the party to contest the primaries.

    Source: Peace FM

  • Think wisely, don’t ruin your party and Ghana – Kwesi Pratt to defeated aspirants

    Seasoned journalist, Kwesi Pratt Jnr has commiserated with defeated aspirants in the NPP primaries held on Saturday, June 20, 2020, but asked them to make the right choices as they progress.

    The primaries saw over 100,000 delegates casting their votes for 308 aspirants in various constituencies across the country.

    Some sitting Members of Parliament lost their positions to new aspirants while others also went unopposed.

    ‘Moneycracy’

    Prior to the NPP primaries, reports were rife about some aspirants distributing money and items such as TV sets, bicycles among others to buy the votes of the delegates.

    At some constituency, it was alleged that the Parliamentary aspirants gave as much as $1,200 to each of his over 300 delegates but still lost the elections.

    A defeated aspirant named Eric Amankwa Blay who distributed 250 bicycles to the delegates, after losing the primaries, has gone back for all the bicycles.

    Make The Best Decision

    Addressing the issue on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’, Kwesi Pratt has advised the defeated aspirants to make the best decision as they move forward with their lives.

    Although he wouldn’t suggest what decision is appropriate for them to make, Kwesi Pratt however noted should the aspirants become selfish; they might do things which won’t augur well for the New Patriotic Party and the entire nation.

    “With the defeated ones, are they going to think about themselves or their party or their country? Should it be that they become selfish or think about themselves, it might not augur well for Ghana and their party,” he said.

    Source: Peace FM

  • CPP has made no decision to support EC’s new voters register – Kwesi Pratt

    Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr has refuted claims that the Convention People’s Party (CPP) supports the compilation of a new voters register by the Electoral Commission (EC).

    The new voters registration exercise is scheduled to begin on June 30 this year and will last for 38 days across the nation.

    Meanwhile, there is a strong opposition against the EC’s decision for a new register as the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and other individuals have dragged the Commission to the Supreme Court seeking several declarations over the registration exercise.

    The NDC placed before the Supreme Court two reliefs with one being that the court should direct the EC to include the voters ID card in the registration process and the other relief they sought was for the court to determine whether or not it is constitutional for the Commission to hold the registration exercise.

    The party, however, dropped their relief about the constitutionality of the EC’s decision to conduct the exercise and is now praying the highest court of the land to determine whether or not the decision to abandon the voters ID card as an identification document for the impending mass registration exercise is constitutional.

    Other parties are also praying the court to hear the case on whether or not the EC should compile a new voters’ register.

    Following all these lawsuits, the EC is poised to conduct the exercise and a publication in the Daily Graphic on Monday, June 16 indicates that six political parties including the CPP have thrown their weight behind the EC.

    Speaking to host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’, Kwesi Pratt stated the reports that the CPP is solidly behind the EC to compile the new register is a complete falsehood.

    He stated emphatically that there has been no such attempt by the CPP.

    “I am a member of the Central Committee of the Convention People’s Party. I am Chairman of the Logistics Committee of the party. The party has never taken any such decision. Yes, the party has not taken any decision to support the compilation of a new voters register,” he exclaimed.

    “So, how come CPP has been drawn into this whereas CPP hasn’t said any such thing?” he further questioned.

    Source: Peace FM

  • I feel pity for Akufo-Addo Kwesi Pratt

    The Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr who was speaking on Peace FM’s morning show ‘Kokrokoo’, has said it is not easy to be a Head of State of any country especially in an era where the world is battling the coronavirus pandemic.

    According to him, it will be an act of wickedness not to feel sympathy for President Akufo-Addo amidst all the struggles of the economy.

    “I feel pity for the President (Akufo-Addo) . . .” Kwesi Pratt Jnr stated.

    “In this current dispensation; every President should be pitied . . . in Ghana anyone who doesn’t sympathize with the President in this current state is wicked . . . In the first place, the economy is not doing so well and to carry this burden as President of Ghana; it is huge and so I feel pity for the President,” he averred.

    Number of Testing

    On the other hand, Kwesi Pratt Jnr has asked authorities to up their game in the number of tests being conducted.

    According to him, other countries are doing well with testing so there is a need to do more.

    As at Sunday 31st May, 218, 425 tests have been conducted according to the Ghana Health Service.

    Restrictions eased, gatherings should not be more than 100 people

    President Akufo-Addo has introduced a phased approach of easing of restrictions especially in public gatherings and school attendance.

    In his 10th address to the nation on measures being taken against the spread of COVID-19 he said effective 5th June, churches and mosques can start meeting with a maximum congregation of 100 and the mandatory wearing of nose mask.

    “In addition to mandatory wearing of masks, a register of names and contact details of all worshippers must be provided; maximum duration of one hour per service,” he said.

     

    Source: Peace FM

  • John Boadu, Kwesi Pratt clash over new voters register

    NPP General Secretary, John Boadu has jumped to the defence of the party’s Campaign Manager for 2020 elections, Peter Mac Manu, over the latter’s recent comments regarding election rigging claims against the party.

    The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), through its National Chairman Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, holds that the EC’s decision to use the Ghana card and passport as the legal documents for registering eligible Ghanaians into a new voters’ register is a ploy to skew the December polls in favour of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

    The NDC strongly opposes the EC saying the Commission wants to disenfranchise 11 million Ghanaians in order to rig the elections for the incumbent government.

    Reacting to the NDC claims, Mr Peter Mac Manu emphasized that the governing party has no interest in rigging the elections and is not conspiring with the EC to perpetrate such crime.

    He stressed that, with or without a new voters’ register, the NPP will win the elections because they have a solid track record and so doesn’t need the EC’s help.

    ”We do not need the EC to rig the elections in our favour. NPP will win the election based on our soundtrack record . . . This is because the Ghanaian electorate has confidence in the ruling NPP government since President Akufo-Addo had shown leadership and sought the welfare of the ordinary Ghanaian over the period of his tenure,” he said.

    Mr Mac Manu’s comments attracted the attention of seasoned journalist Kwesi Pratt, who speaking on Peace FM’s morning show ‘Kokrokoo’, questioned why the NPP is advocating for a new voters’ register if their Campaign Manager has no worries over the old register.

    Mr Pratt believes it is baseless for the NPP to support the EC’s decision to compile a new register if the party will win the elections with or without it.

    Speaking on the same programme, the party’s General Secretary sought to correct the misconception created by Kwesi Pratt that the NPP Campaign Manager is against the new voters’ register.

    John Boadu told host Kwami Sefa Kayi that Kwesi Pratt’s interpretation of Mr Mac Manu’s response is misleading.

    According to him, nowhere did Mr Mac Manu make a comment that the NPP supports the old register, therefore clarifying that Mr Mac Manu was rather pointing out to the opposition party that the NPP will win the 2020 elections based on their performance.

    “It doesn’t mean Mac Manu is against the compilation of a new register. Mac Manu didn’t say using the old register will make the elections credible. He didn’t say that and don’t misquote him,” John Boadu charged.

    Source: Peace FM

  • What document proves nationality better than birth certificate? – Kwesi Pratt questions EC

    Seasoned Journalist, Kwesi Pratt Jnr., has expressed his profound disappointment in the Electoral Commission (EC) over its decision to use the Ghana card and Ghanaian passport as the only legal documents for the compilation of a new voters’ register.

    The Electoral Commission has laid before Parliament to amend Constitutional Instrument (C.I) 91 to use only the Ghana card and the passport for the registration exercise, which means NHIS card and driver’s licence holders are not eligible to register their names, except they provide the two legitimized documents.

    The EC has justified their decision saying their approach will help to eliminate unqualified names and ensure a credible register.

    The Commission has also assured Ghanaians of a free and fair election this year.

     

    Kwesi Pratt Jnr is however dissatisfied with the EC’s decision, asking why the Commission is not adding the birth certificate to the requirements for the registration.

    Mr. Pratt explained on ‘Kokrokoo’ on Peace FM that the birth certificate is a legitimate requirement for the processing of a passport in Ghana, and so if the EC is ready to accept the passport, then they should equally allow birth certificate holders to participate in the exercise.

    ”What document proves nationality better than the birth certificate? But here it is that you can’t use your birth certificate to do the registration. What is the meaning of that?” he questioned the EC.

     

    Source: Peace FM

  • Show images of coronavirus patients to deter ‘stubborn Ghanaians’ – Kwesi Pratt

    Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr., has called on authorities to televise patients of COVID-19 to serve as deterrent to headstrong Ghanaians.

    According to Kwesi Pratt, many Ghanaians do not see the seriousness of the impact of the disease because there is nothing to inject some dose of fear and panic into them.

    Speaking to host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’, Kwesi Pratt insisted that showing horrible images of those who have been infected by the disease and are in critical condition will help in the public education on COVID-19.

    He believed Ghanaians will appreciate how dangerous the pandemic is to human health and take the precautionary measures to protect themselves when they see how the patients are doing in the various hospitals.

    To him, though the government might want to shield the patients because it is unethical, in this case “public safety” should “override the other ethical considerations and so on”.

    “If possible, let’s televise the critically ill people in the hospitals who are having difficulty with breathing and in severe conditions for people to see the dangers of the disease”.

    Source: Peace FM

  • Coronavirus: Kwesi Pratt hints of another lockdown

    Seasoned journalist, Kwesi Pratt has hinted there will soon be another lockdown in the country.

    Contributing to panel discussion on ”Kokrokoo” on Peace FM, Kwesi Pratt stated that looking at the rapid spread of the Coronavirus resulting in Ghana recording 5,127 cases, it is possible President Nana Akufo-Addo will announce another lockdown to contain the situation.

    Kwesi Pratt also listed a number of factors that may inform the President’s decision to issue a lockdown again.

    According to him, looking at some Ghanaians not adhering to the preventive protocols to curb the disease, it will be prudent for the enforcement of a lockdown because that is the only way to safeguard the citizenry.

    He said research has proven restricting human movements is the surest way to fight the pandemic and therefore from his observations about the behaviour of Ghanaians ”there could be a lockdown again…Maybe it won’t be a national lockdown but for the epic centers, you have to lock down”.

    Source: Peace FM

  • Coronavirus: Stop giving Ghanaians ‘false hope’, fear is necessary – Kwesi Pratt

    Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr., has called on the Akufo-Addo government to stop giving “false hope” to Ghanaians about the success chalked in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic.

    According to him, the fight against the pandemic may be far from over if the government does not begin to pump some dose of fear into the minds of Ghanaians.

    Speaking to host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’ program on Tuesday, Kwesi Pratt bemoaned the decision by government to tell the citizenry not to be alarmed by the cases being recorded in the country, citing reasons that they are as a result of the backlog of samples that were at the testing centers.

    The seasoned journalist held the view that government’s approach is the reason why some Ghanaians are refusing to adhere to the safety protocols, particularly the wearing of nose masks, to prevent the spread of the disease.

    Ghana’s COVID-19 case count has currently risen to 2,719 with 294 recoveries and 18 deaths recorded.

    Though according to health experts, Ghana’s positivity and mortality rates are low as the country records 0.66% death toll, Kwesi Pratt feared there might be a surge of the infections in the country.

    “Almost 3,000 in a matter of four weeks is very scary. We should stop the false hope that we’re giving to the people. Because if you give people false hope and tell them to wear nose masks, why would they wear it? You’re telling them the disease doesn’t call for fears and that the person will recover when he or she gets infected. If he will recover, then why would he wear the mask? We need a dose of fear because the fear helps to manage the situation,” he said.

    Listen to Kwesi Pratt in the video below

    Source: Peace FM

  • Recent police killings can cause unfounded jittery – Kwesi Pratt’s fears

    The Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr says the recent shooting of two police officers can cause unfounded jittery among service personnel.

    Available data indicate that 5 police personnel have been shot in the line of duty in the past 30 days. Many have blamed this on the lack of logistics while others think it is the lack of training.

    Nonetheless, authorities have been asked to do whatever it takes to ensure the safety of the country’s police officers.

    Information gathered so far indicates that the two officers who died in the line of duty last week, were not properly armed.

    Read:Ayawaso Violence: We have a lot of irresponsible politicians Kwesi Pratt

    As a result, Ambrose Dery, Minister of Interior has asked that all officers of the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) across the country to be armed.

    Contributing to a panel discussion on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’ Morning Show, the seasoned journalist noted that, “if care is not taken, the American system where police personnel becomes apprehensive and shoots an approaching victim on sight or when the victim puts the hands in his/her pocket can occur in Ghana.”

    Background

    The two officers from the Kasoa Motor Traffic and Transport Department were said to be conducting road checks when they were shot at and killed by some four men in an unregistered vehicle.

    Read:NDC race: Kwasi Pratt called to counsel Kojo Bonsu

    The unregistered vehicle was signaled to stop as it approached the checkpoint but the driver failed to stop, causing the police to chase the vehicle.

    According to the police in the Central Region, the assailants began shooting at the police vehicle at a point and in the process, the officers were hit. One died on the spot and the other died later at the Police Hospital in Accra.

    Three persons were arrested few hours after the incident but the IGP who was visiting one of the deceased families in Kasoa Thursday said one of the suspects is currently on the run but said the Police were working to arrest him.

    Meanwhile, the main suspect, Eric Kojo Duah has been arrested.

    Source: peacefmonline.com