Senior journalist Kwesi Pratt Junior says the unprecedented economic challenges worsening Ghanaians’ plight post-Covid frightens and gets him thinking.
Mr. Pratt said the hardship juxtaposed with a similar situation during the Acheampong era makes him perturbed about the consequences.
“Let me make a confession. I’m a very (sic) freighted person. Look, economic hardship is one thing. Everybody is complaining about the hardship. People go to the market and prices are escalating everywhere you go, you are hit with hardship. You can’t tell what’s going to happen tomorrow and so on. That anxiety is there,” he said on Good Morning Ghana, Wednesday.
Beyond that anxiety, the managing editor of the Insight Newspaper told Dr. Randy Abbey on the Metro TV socio-political show, “I’m very deeply frightened about the possible consequences of this development. I’m a little old and yesterday I spend some time reflecting.
I saw the 1972, the Palace Coups in the Acheampong era, 1979, 1981, and so on. I saw and experienced them and there are important lessons that hit me in the face.”
According to Mr. Pratt, in spite of the pivotal role General Akwasi Amankwah Afrifa played in unseating the Acheampong government and eventually bringing about the 1979 revolt of the Armed Forces when it came to finding people to execute, he was one of the people.
“That was an important lesson for all of us,” he stated.
Kwesi Pratt Jr. went on to narrate the happening in the 1970s and the lessons those events brought and urged the leadership of the nation to take pages from those books.
“I remember the story of Lieutenant Emmanuel Tetteh, [an] innocent soldier had woken up in the morning and had gone jogging and he came face-to-face with some soldiers without questioning, they shot him dead – Emmanuel Tetteh was my mate in secondary school.
“I remember the story of a guy who was going to Ho at Tudu. [He] had boarded a vehicle, a soldier came and wanted to go to Ho [too] and the vehicle was full. He said they should get the guy off the bus, so, he boards it. His request was rejected and he picked a gun and shot the guy dead.
“I remember quite vividly the cases of elderly women stripped naked and paraded on the streets of Ghana naked and all the many atrocities which were committed. I know for a fact that those who were responsible for the economic decay, and those who were responsible for the conditions that led to the revolt many of them escaped unhurt.
Reflecting on the current situation, the veteran newsman opined that eventually, “those responsible for the economic mess may escape scrutiny, punishment, and innocent people will suffer.”
He urged the President Nana Akufo-Addo administration to focus on eliminating hardship, creating an atmosphere for all sundry that they have a contribution to make, making them and their contributions are valued.
In addition, Mr. Pratt said sending out a signal that the current democrat order is capable of delivering when it comes to the needs and aspirations of the people.
“This democratic order is useless and meaningless if it does not deliver the needs and aspirations of the people. We need to do that as quickly as possible,” he averred.
However, he concluded, “unfortunately, I do not see these three objectives being pursued and that is where the danger is.”
In recent weeks, Ghanaians are enduring unprecedented hardship occasioned by rising inflation, the Cedi depreciation against major trading currencies, and the constant increase of petroleum products.
This development has led to several people calling for the dismissal of the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, and the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen.
By: Bernard Ralph Adams | Metrotvonline.com | Ghana
