Kwesi Pratt Blames Gov't For Afrobarometer Report�

�It is about time for progressive forces to be thinking seriously about providing alternatives; not just in terms of policies but in terms of building organisations�because we cannot leave this country permanently to NDC, NPP�the time is coming and very fast for progressive forces in this country to make a serious input�� asserted Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jr. The Newspaper Editor was speaking to the recent 2014 Afrobarometer reports by the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD). Per the report 76 percent of Ghanaians blame government for failing to improve their living standards. The report which sampled views from about 2,400 citizens about their economic and living conditions was conducted from May to June this year at a time when there was a general consensus that the country�s economy was challenged. Contributing to a panel discussion on Radio Gold�s Alhaji and Alhaji programme, Kwesi Pratt condemned the method of conducting research by the �numerous think tanks� and blamed government for their influx. According to him, it is time a different force emerges to provide different alternatives since none of the think tanks in the country are offering any. �I am just wondering why all the so called think tanks and research institutes that we have in this country as at now, have a right wing orientation�all of them believe everything should be done for the sole reason of generating profit�.if they cannot make profit then people must die�how come that all of them believe in this? What has happened to the alternatives?� he wondered. He further noted that the report revealed nothing new because Ghanaians are already aware of the economic challenges. He would rather government stops wasting its time on the report, and address the real issues facing the ordinary person such as the providing access to portable water amongst others. Mr Pratt also questioned the methods used in arriving at the findings in the report. "Those who think there are alternatives; what have they done to bring about those alternatives? The current government is also blameable; they carry a large portion of that blame�sometimes it is very difficult to tell the difference between NDC and NPP�Government by its own action, has encouraged the emergence of these right wing think tanks because they defend their reckless policies�the right wing people, they have a fixed interest� �Afrobarometer; every year the same story and conditions of the ordinary people don�t change in anyway�nobody is listening to us because that alternative which will shake them has not emerged. That alternative which will put the fear of God in the political elite has not emerged�so they can continue to waste our time on Afrobarometer and what not�� he stated.