Former Managing News Editor of the Insight Newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr., has cautioned political actors against misrepresenting legal investigations as attacks on free speech.
Speaking to host Moro Awudu on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana on May 20, Mr Pratt said some claims being made around the detention of Bono Regional NPP Chairman, Kwame Baffoe, were misleading.
“You are weakening your case by cooking up scenarios,” he said.
Mr Pratt questioned why some politicians were attempting to classify every arrest or investigation as a violation of free speech.
“Somebody should tell me what views Paul Adom Otchere expressed for which he was arrested,” he stated.
“We know why he was investigated. It had nothing to do with free expression.”
The veteran journalist said freedom of speech remains critical in every democracy, but stressed that constitutional safeguards and public interest must also be respected.
“If you don’t encourage the right of free expression, you stifle debate, discussion and progress,” he said.
“But the Constitution itself says that these rights are subject to respect for the rights and freedoms of others and the public interest.”
Mr Pratt defended the judiciary’s authority to deny bail where there is concern an accused person may abscond or commit another offence.
“The judge, based on evidence, may conclude that if you are granted bail, you are likely to abscond,” he explained.
“This is lawful.”
He criticised what he described as “equalisation” in political debate, where current allegations are justified by citing alleged actions of previous governments.
“If NPP violated rights in the past, that does not justify any government doing the same today,” he said.
“So equalisation is not a justification.”
Mr Pratt also condemned comments made by politicians against members of the judiciary, describing them as reckless.
“A sitting member of parliament [Jerry Ahmed Shaib] questioning whether a judge passed his law exams is a serious indictment on the judiciary,” he said.
He further expressed concern over inflammatory political rhetoric, including comments about “weaponising” party youth groups.
“You are publicly declaring that you are going to weaponise your youth,” he said, referring to remarks attributed to Salam Mustapha.
Mr Pratt urged political leaders to exercise restraint and engage in informed public discourse as tensions continue over the ongoing controversy.
