The managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr says the major reason why mob action is increasing in the country is the ‘lack of faith in state institutions’.
“What we are discussing is a national security situation; it’s a major challenge for national cohesion, a functioning state. What we are discussing is a sliding into a banana republic…what we are talking about is impunity; the lack of faith in our security establishment. The refusal of state actors to punish crime, that’s what we are talking about…and we should focus attention on that in order to deal with the problem
…we’ve had a situation where the ECG office has been attacked and vandalised by persons who claim to have grievances against ECG. They did not go to the police, they did not go to the court, they simply attacked the ECG and burnt the office…it should be telling us something. The fundamental question in all of this is; why is it that citizen feel or have been made to feel that when they have grievances, recourse to state institutions will not address those grievances and that they would have to address those grievances themselves?” he rhetorically asked.
Kwesi Pratt, who was commenting on the lynching of Captain Maxwell Mahama, said during a panel discussion on Radio Gold’s Alhaji and Alhaji that if soldiers are not having confidence in the police to do its work, how much more civilians.
“The soldiers say they have no confidence in the police and that they should be allowed to handle a case of alleged murder; how different is that from all the other people who are refusing to go to the police? How come foreign mining companies come to operate in our country and our security services decide that detachment of our armed forces should go and protect them; protect them against whom? What is the role of the army; is the role of the army to protect us or the foreign multinational companies who are wreaking havoc in our communities? Why send an innocent fine officer to go and protect one of these foreign companies? Why? I don’t understand. That is why I am in full sympathy with the soldiers who are saying that from now on they should not be involved in those operations. The soldiers that are saying they should not be involved in such operations are saying something that we ought to listen to,” he said.
Source: Peacefmonline.com
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This NDC clown called Kwesi Pratt says what? He's talking as if he was born this year. How long had the soldiers been protecting that mine. Kwesi, tell us, we want to know but l know you know, but as usual will not mention it because it involves your NDC party that had made you rich. How come an editor of a news paper that sells less than 20 copies per week be rich like Pratt?
plse was the captain seen with a woman some time ago? if yes then my view is the gentle man is so handsome that these people just want to take his life so that the child to be born becomes theirs. so many things happened to handsome men in that area in the olden days.
For once, Maasa you have spoken well. I agree with you. Ghana must be serious, you cannot do this in foreign Country. innocent soul.
Mr Pratt must first investigate when soldiers were first dispatched to protect foreign companies. I guess it did not start five months ago. Why did Kwasi not embark on demonstration when soldiers were first dispatched there. Secondly, how long has Kwasi known the real mandate of the military. I REST MY CASE
That C&G Mining Company is for who? And HOW LONG has these detachment of Soldiers have spent there. I am sure they are still there. The new Government should see to it that ALL These and others should be STOPPED. The soldiers should remain in barracks. As Kwesi was saying the Police were the source of all these. Because they DO NOT deal the cases sent to them. Even as at now people say IF YOU SEND ME TO POLICE STATION I WILL BE FREED. Then the victim rather become HOT.
Kwasi, I have disagreed with you on so many issues. But this one dieerrr i give it to you. You have said it dispassionately and the authorities must listen. Thank you massa kwasi
Kwesi you have said all this is the first time somebody has been lynched, it has happened to many people and nothing was done about. In 1996 it happened to Valco worker at Odorkor when he was wrongly accused of causing a driver mate genital organ to shrink, this guy was lynched at Odorkor and nothing happened to the guy who raised false alarm. Ghanain big men who are behind these Chines galamsey knew it what causes the death of this gently soldier. Captain Mahama boss who assigned to that Mining area new the inside story but he will not tell the truth about it. Those who lynched captain Mahama will be used as escape and push the truth under carpet by the police, Ghana arm forces, politicians and businessmen who has interest in Denkyira gold reserve.
Kwesi Pratt has asked just the right question. In fact this murder has become an issue because, we deem Maxwell to a fine military guy. Many people are lynched in Ghana on yearly basis and no one cares to investigate what their crime was. The society has glorified such occurrences(natural justice) for a long time, and that is fruit we are reaping today. In fact just last week, two people were lynched in the North region, because someone thought they were witches. Did society bother to ask any question? Last year a taxi driver knocked down two suspected arm robbers into a gutter. He had national recognition for that act, didn't he? To the extent that, the president honored him publicly...We are Hippocrates, we have created this culture and that is what are eating and drinking from. it's as if we are sub-humans..Our society needs cleansing. Why should our army be protecting foreign miners? We are jokers!! BNI came out with a report and the military came out to deny vehemently....now we see the truth is coming out! How I wish someone will publish the name of the Ghanaian behind this mining deal. We have the right to know!
That is a sensible and legitimate question that we need to ask the military and the government. I stand with Kwesi Pratt on this. Folks, As a country we need to move forward and think ahead. Fmr President Mahama's gov't is not in power - being sympathisers of a former gov't or party does not preclude you for contributing in a national discourse. so those dissing Kwesi should stop and let's move forward. This is how to develop a country. thank you Kwesi Pratt for this intelligent questions.
This Kwesi Pratt guy and hypocrisy are bed fellows. You were part of the former government under John Mahama. You traveled severally with John Mahama all over the world. You were privy to national security briefs. Kwesi, are you now saying you have no idea who owns the mine the Captain was protecting? Ask John Mahama, he will tell you who owns it and why he instructed soldiers to guard that mine. As for Nana Addo, he should keep on sleeping and also continue scratching the back of NDC and the bad nuts in his government. Politicians never learn.