‘What is happening in the media space is horrifying’ – Kwesi Pratt condemns ‘irresponsible’ speech 

Veteran journalist Kwesi Pratt Jr has criticised what he describes as the growing prevalence of irresponsible speech in Ghana’s media space, particularly on social media.

Speaking on Accra-based Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana on Wednesday, September 23, Mr Pratt said the trend was far removed from the principles of free speech that journalists and other citizens fought to establish.

“I’ve seen videos of persons who are actually announcing coup d’états as an act of treason... some of them would amount to high treason, and they should not be taken lightly,” he said.

He said the media space is also increasingly being used to discuss the private affairs of public figures, including their relationships, instead of focusing on issues of public interest.

The journalist further criticised the use of personal attacks in political discussions, saying debates over government policies and public decisions are sometimes reduced to comments about people’s physical appearance.

He said religious intolerance had also become a rising feature of public discourse, with some discussions degenerating into attacks against Muslims and Christians based on their faith.

The veteran journalist stressed that the right to free speech was not intended to give people licence to engage in treasonous or inflammatory conduct.

“People ought to be able to express views which the authorities may not be comfortable with, so that is not to licence treason and sedition. That is not to licence the kinds of things that we are seeing in the media today,” he said.

He argued that free speech should enable citizens to hold and express views different from those of the establishment without fear, while remaining within the bounds of the law.