Audio Attachment:Listen to the submissions from Sammy Awuku and Kwesi Pratt on PeaceFM's "Kokrokoo" Show. |
A Deputy Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has launched a verbal blitzkrieg at Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr., for questioning the genuineness of a �goodwill� message issued by the party's flagbearer, Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo to President Mills.
Sammy Awuku opines that the newspaper editor rather stands indicted for the element of mischief he has introduced into mainstream politics, following his (Pratt's) assertions that Nana Addo�s message to President Mills is ill-intentioned and calculated to fit into the public perception that Mills is unfit to run for re-election.
On Monday, Mr Pratt told Suhuyini Alhassan in an interview on Radio Gold that �there is not a single goodwill in that message�, issued by the NPP Presidential candidate and believed it was �calculated to achieve a diabolical dent�.
But contributing to discussions on PeaceFM�s �Kokrokoo� platform on Tuesday, the NPP Deputy Communications Director slammed Kwesi Pratt for being lukewarm and practicing �Kweku Ananse� style of journalism.
He accused him of giving slant to Nana Addo�s goodwill message just to portray to the general public that his (Awuku's) flagbearer's wishes bad for the president.
To him, it is becoming increasingly clear that Mr Pratt advances his arguments more like an �NDC member than a senior journalist�.
�I was extremely shocked and extremely disappointed when I heard Kwesi Pratt on Radio Gold (Monday). All this while I place Kwesi in the position of a practicing journalist but I think Kwesi spoke more of an NDC officer than a senior journalist�Kwesi says Nana Addo's message is a trap; when the President himself, prior to his departure said he will be back in a few days. So if Nana Addo also says he prays the President gets back in a few days, Kwesi says its a trap...,� Sammy Awuku said.
However, in a sharp riposte on the same platform, the seasoned journalist maintained that there was not a single goodwill in the message the NPP Presidential candidate sent to President Mills, adding that it was tinged with mischief.
Mr. Pratt pointed out that it was bad of the NPP to link President Mills' capacity to contest the elections to his health. According to him there is a whole lot of difference in going for a medical check-up and going for medical treatment.
"The Statesman newspaper published a story asking if President Mills can contest the December polls...in relation to his health...is the newspaper not fuelling speculations to that effect? The link with his capacity to contest the elections to his health is so clear; i'm not the one saying this...The statement issued from the Osu Castle was that the President was going for medical check-up...a lot of doctors have spoken to this issue and they say anyone can go for medical check-up; whether the person is healthy or not. According to doctors, it is recommended that anyone pass the age of 40 should go for medical check-up at least once a year. So the fact that somebody is going for a medical check-up does not mean the person is sick,"
He questioned why the NPP flagbearer stated in his goodwill message that President Mills was going for a medical treatment, adding that it gave "potency to the rumour". He also had issues with Nana Addo saying that he wishes that the President arrives in a few days times to continue with his job.
"Just the fact that he included in his statement that President Mills was going for treatment, is an affirmation that the president was sick. You don't go for treatment when you are not sick...if the president is going for a routine medical check-up, what was the basis of that statement?...Clearly, mischief was at play!" Kwesi Pratt said.
He quickly added that though he knows it is not the prayer of the NPP flagbearer that Mills kicks the bucket, the "goodwill" statement he issued was inappropriate.
"It raises all manner of issues...whatever it is, any close examination of that statement reveals it was intended to fuel the mischief; to deepen the rumour...I want somebody to tell me plainly that Nana Addo has never gone for medical check-up...When has anybody gone for medical check-up that the public has wished him well," he added.
But Sammy Awuku interjected his submission and stated that it was Mr Pratt who was being mischievous since Nana Addo intended well. He was of the opinion that rumours of the president�s death could be a ploy by the NDC to win sympathy votes in the December polls.
"...you are deepening the mischief...several religious bodies and organizations have lauded Nana Addo for setting a new standard in our politics (for issuing that statement);...I find it amusing that Mr. Pratt would condemn Nana Addo�I was expecting Mr. Pratt to commend Nana Addo for raising the bar in the way our political leaders relate to each other instead of having ill-feeling towards him you are introducing new element of mischief. The mischief is being fuelled by you," he acuused Mr Pratt.
The NPP communicator also wondered why President Mills failed to touched on the ethnic violence in Ekumfi Narkwa, Hohoe and other areas but rather choose to address rumours of his death when he spoke to the media before enplaning for his medical check-up in the USA.
Source: Chris Joe Quaicoe/Peacefmonline.com
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