Pratt Draws Blood

KWESI PRATT Jnr., a renowned journalist and managing editor of the Insight newspaper, has taken an offensive swipe at his colleague journalists who disagree with his claim that the United States intends to build a military base in Ghana.

He has also rubbished the explanation from the American President, George Bush, that his country has no intent of establishing such a facility in Ghana.

According to Mr. Pratt, the fact that the denial from the US President has been taken by Ghanaians as the truth is an indication that the 'Nkrumahist Agenda' has a long way to go.

“Now it is important for us to understand the issues very clearly and not allow ourselves to be confused by half illiterates and absolutely foolish journalists who have no idea about the issue.

And whose only standing in public discourse is that somehow, by some twist of events they are also allowed on the airwaves to spew their foolishness. So when we hear all the ignorant noises on the issue, they are simply just ignorant noises fueled by a concentration to fill stomach,” Mr. Pratt stated last Thursday in an address at a programme organised by the Socialist Forum of Ghana to mark the 42nd anniversary of the overthrow of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

He continued: “That the Nkrumahist agenda has a very long way to go is demonstrated by some facts. The fact that we have succeeded in turning George Walker Bush into the Jesus Christ of Ghana, for when George Bush speaks it must be the truth.

Because George Bush says that the United States of America has never had an intention of constructing a military base in Ghana, that must be the truth. Because George Bush says that the United States of America is only interested in helping the people of Ghana treat malaria, and to find the cure for HIV/AIDS, that must be the truth.

“Sadly, they forget that George Bush is not one of those people whose words can be taken seriously in anything. We can not forget that it was George Walker Bush and his administration that invaded Iraq, killed thousands of people, tortured men and women, including young women, set up the Guantanamo Bay, where people were arrested, tortured and detained without charge or trial when indeed the evidence was that there was no evidence of mass destruction in Iraq,” an angry looking Kwesi Pratt charged in his speech as he was drowned in sweat and intermittently pushed his clenched fists into the air.

Mr. Pratt continued that the late Kwame Nkrumah had an unfinished agenda of mobilizing the human and natural resources of all people from the resolution of the problems of mankind. He described as shameful for people who claimed to be believers of Nkrumah's ideology to shy away from the name at a time when the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Akufo-Addo, is proclaiming to be the new Nkrumah of Ghana.

Other speakers at the ceremony included Dr. Sulley Gariba, a Development Consultant and Mr. Tsatsu Tsikata, former lecturer of Law at the University of Ghana.

The event was held at the former Press Centre and was attended by about 200 people including Mr. Ato Ahwoi.

By Halifax Ansah-Addo