Editor to Kufuor: Take action or lose people's trust

Political activist and journalist Kwesi Pratt Jnr. has written to President John Kufuor asking him to enforce the principles on which he won last year's elections.

In a four-page letter to the President copied to the media, Mr Pratt also Editor of the Weekly Insight, said he is concerned about the President's lack of action on "serious threats" that may ultimately cause him to lose favour in the public's eyes.

These, he said, include threats of government corruption, media terrorism, ethnic tensions and the lack of public input on the HIPC initiative.

"You must constantly act to ensure that those you have put in responsible positions work for the realisation of the pledges you freely made to the people of Ghana during last year's electioneering campaign." Pratt's letter states.

He said if President Kufuor fails to do so he would lose the people's goodwill, which the government seems to be enjoying so far.

Although Mr Pratt admits that he has not found any evidence of the President's personal involvement in any acts of corruption, he said the President, nevertheless, should take firmer action on questionable practices by his officials.

Mr Pratt said that since the government assumed power, its supporters have been threatening other political parties and people perceived as opponents during radio talk shows and claimed to have been twice threatened with death.

"This media terrorism has led to a situation in which very decent members of the Ghanaian society are refusing to take part in radio discussion programmes for fear of verbal molestation."

According to Mr Pratt, ethnic tensions have not eased since President Kufuor's assumption of office and, as a result, the President should consider debarring members of government from participating in activities of groups that are seeking hegemony. "The most recent indication of ethnic rivalry and tension is the protest against the election of a non GaDangme as Greater Accra regional representative on the Council of State.

The GaDangmes are calling for the removal of their representative, Dr. Kofi Owusu-Ansah saying he is not a Ga and so cannot represent their interest on the Council of State. An ultimatum given to the President to revoke the appointment of Owusu-Ansah has elapsed.

"Evidence available to me indicates that the political elite is taking advantage of these ethnic cleavages to carve out spheres of influence."

Mr Pratt said contrary to his pre-election promises to build an all-inclusive government, the President has not done anything that suggests he is still committed to that goal.

"Admittedly, a few individuals from the Nkrumaist political family have been given appointments in your government, but it is clear that the move is a cosmetic manoeuvre calculated to score political points."

Pratt also said the government has been silent over the failure of Mobitel, Ghana's first mobile phone service provider, to meet its contractual obligations, which include paying taxes to the National Communications Authority.

The outspoken editor and a leading member of the Convention People's Party (CPP) which supported the ruling party in the December 28 presidential run-off expressed disappointment over the government's adoption of the HIPC initiative without giving the public ample time to debate and decide on the proposal.

Pratt also urged the President to increase workers' salaries to reflect the higher prices of goods and services. He should also expand access to social amenities, such as housing, education, health and agricultural production.

The Editor who has taken the government to task on the Sahara contract made a lengthy comment on the issue, saying the contract was unhelpful and unnecessary, describing it as a wasteful agreement that does not save the government 7.4 million dollars, as claimed by Minister for Energy Albert Kan-Dapaah.

For Pratt, the most baffling question is why the government did not give 2.3 million dollars to settle Ghana National Petroleum Corporation's debt instead of brokering a 3.2 million dollars contract with Sahara. "As Executive President, Your Excellency is ultimately responsible for all the acts of omission and commission of the government and it is important for you to open your eyes and ears widely," Pratt said.

Meanwhile, his letter has received a lot of public criticism, condemnation and also commendation. Whilst some think that he has the right to do what he has done, they believe that he should have addressed his grievances to the President directly as he did, but to other members of the government who could equally deal with them.

A second school of thought however, commended him for the move. Government Spokesperson, Elizabeth Ohene has acknowledged receipt of the letter and said the government would respond appropriately.

Pratt is on record to have described the 100 days of the Kufuor administration as "erratic."