Kwesi Pratt Jnr, Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, has dared anybody, including government, who has plans to prevent him from appearing on radio and television discussion programmes, to revise their notes because he cannot be gagged.
οΏ½I will never be stopped. I donοΏ½t see anybody who can stop me from expressing my thoughts,οΏ½ Kwesi Pratt declared, on Adom FMοΏ½s Dwaso Nsem morning show Thursday March 14, 2013.
His outburst followed reports that he had been axed from the list of government/NDC communicators tasked to appear on Metro TVοΏ½s morning programme Good Morning Ghana.
The Daily Searchlight newspaper reported that Mr. Pratt, who is a regular panel member for Wednesday was told by Producer of the show, that he had been replaced by the Communications Directorate of the NDC and was therefore turned away. His place was taken by the NDC Member of Parliament for Nanton, Murtala Mohammed.
Kwesi Pratt insists however that, he does not appear on the ticket of the NDC on the show.
Confirming the incident, the veteran journalist said οΏ½I went to Metro TV on Wednesday, but I was told οΏ½the governmentοΏ½ did not want me to appear on the show so I left.οΏ½
However, οΏ½around 11am, [Information and Media Relations Minister Mahama] Ayariga called me and said it was οΏ½a mistake, miscommunication.οΏ½ Later [defeated NDC parliamentary candidate for Ablekuma North] Ras Mubarak came to my office and said he was taking over as head of NDC Communications team, and that my being driven away was a mistake. But I asked him why he was saying that, since I donοΏ½t speak for the government.οΏ½
Kwesi Pratt gave a stark warning to persons who hoped to embarrass and prevent him from speaking on topical national issues.
οΏ½If there is anybody in government who thinks because we are friends I will not criticize the actions of the government then they are mistaken. Everybody knows former President Kufuor is my friend, but I criticized his government. Who doesnοΏ½t know Nana Akufo-Addo is my friend, but I criticized his plans when I thought they were wrong.
οΏ½The same way President Mahama is more like a brother, but if he does something that I think is not right I will say it without fear or favour. His appointments and this reshuffle, if I think they are wrong I will say it. οΏ½I will never be stopped. I donοΏ½t see anybody who can stop me from expressing my thoughts.οΏ½
Source: Adomonline.com
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