I Learnt Many Things From Prez Akufo-Addo - Pratt Reveals

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has come under intense criticisms not only because of the way he is administering Ghana's economic affairs which some Ghanaians strongly believe has made living difficult for them but also due to the recent arrests of some journalists and persons.

On Friday 27 July 2001, Ghana’s parliament unanimously repealed the Criminal Libel and Seditious Laws, which had been used to incarcerate a number of journalists in the past.

Ex-President John Agyekum Kufuor, whose administration saw to the cancellation of the Criminal Libel Law, stated it was “amended to expand the boundaries of freedom”.

The amendment meant that any person accused of committing an offence under the repealed sections will be discharged.

Therefore, with the arrests of the media practitioners, some critics argue that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who played a pivotal role in the institution of the laws that gave people the freedom to express themselves, have rejected his values.

They believe the President is using the Police to terrorize people and also to gag the media which they claim is suppression of freedom of speech and press freedom.

Commenting on the recent actions by the Police, Kwesi Pratt, on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'', made a sudden disclosure about President Akufo-Addo's impact on his life.

Sounding shocked that these arrests are happening under Nana Addo's regime, Mr. Pratt revealed one person who taught him a lot of things about fighting for people's freedoms is none other than President Nana Akufo-Addo.

Although not to hold brief for the media practitioners and persons arrested over their defamatory statements, Kwesi Pratt condemned the approach used by the Police in their arrest of these persons.

''When it comes to the rule of law, freedom of speech, Criminal Libel Law and so forth, I learnt a lot from Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo during the time we worked together'', he said.



Arrests

An Accra FM's Presenter, Kwabena Bobie Ansah days ago landed himself in trouble after alleging that the First and Second Ladies, Rebecca Akufo-Addo and Samira Bawumia have stolen State lands.

He was arrested and charged with offensive conduct.

The Police also arrested the leader of the #FixTheCountry demo, Oliver Barker-Vormawor after the latter's comments on social media about plotting a coup and is also charged with treason felony.

NPP Bono Regional Chairman, Kwame Baffoe, popularly called 'Abronye DC', was also not spared as the Police apprehended him over his claims that former President John Mahama is involved in a coup plot.

He has been charged him with two counts of publication of false news and offensive conduct conducive to the breach of peace.