CPP condemns vilification of Kwesi Pratt

The United Kingdom and Eire branch of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) has condemned the sinister attempts by sections of the media to link Comrade Kwesi Pratt Jnr, Chairman of the Publicity Committee of the party, to a so-called $125,000 bribery scandal.

It noted that the move is an empty attempt by reactionary forces in the country who have been outmatched and outclassed by the constructive arguments being advanced by Mr Kwesi Pratt on the media landscape, to frustrate him.

“It cannot be a coincidence that anonymous letters and telephone callers have emerged from the woodwork to coincide with a speculative and largely hollow article published by Accra Daily Mail hinting at a bribe of $125,000 to a ‘senior Journalist”, it said.

A statement issued and signed by Nii Armah Akomfrah, UK Regional Secretary, said the branch “smells a smear campaign and would simply add our comments in full support of Mr Kwesi Pratt’s honesty and integrity.

“This orchestrated attempt to malign Mr Pratt Jnr and other genuine journalists is also an attempt to take minds away from the socio-economic hardship which has engulfed our dear nation and one which the NPP Government seems to be impotent to resolve the statement added.

According to the statement the issues have been sufficiently discussed in both the print and electronic media as well as in all sectors of the Ghanaian society and it is clear that the public is dismayed by the whole episode and that a backlash has begun.

It noted with regret that given the current democratic dispensation and the claim by the government that they are avowed demonstrators of the rule of law, “politicians close to the ruling government should employ dastardly methods to stifle genuine opposing views”.

It called on all well-meaning, objective and democratic forces in Ghana and elsewhere who believe in freedom of speech expressly enshrined in the Constitution to rise, challenge and condemn in no uncertain terms such undemocratic tendency within the body politic.

“If part of the intention behind the machination against Mr Pratt Jnr is to silence the CPP or to prevent us from speaking out against the harsh realities of an NPP Government, then we wish it to be known that the CPP is separate and distinct from the NPP and will remain so.

“We will go to the congress when plans are finalised, we will debate and finalise our policies, elect a presidential candidate to oppose the NPP incumbent with a view to unseating him”, it stressed.