.... and Smuggles son Into Foreign Affairs

In a clear case of double standard and hypocrisy, Mr. Kwesi Pratt Jnr., the Managing Editor of The Insight has allegedly grabbed a Diplomatic Passport for himself.

Mr. Pratt Jnr. was a strident critic of former President John Agyekum Kufuor’s administration for cheapening and bringing Ghana’s diplomatic passport into disrepute when his administration, in what can be described as “a mass policy and cronyism,” gave some individuals who by virtue of the laws of the country and standard practice were not entitled to have Diplomatic Passports a rare opportunity to hold the country’s enviable diplomatic passport. His newspaper, The Insight, which serves as his personal mouthpiece was awash with names of individuals, including Otufuo Osei Tutu, who, according to him, are not deserving of Diplomatic Passport yet hold Ghana’s Diplomatic Passport. As a result of the abuse of Ghana’s Diplomatic Passport, the alleged corruption tag placed on Mr. Kufuor’s NPP administration and its officials and the rising cost of living, the administration came under severe criticism from a section of Ghanaians including its political opponents especially the then opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) party.

The NPP paid the political price for the handling of the above-mentioned issues, which eventually led to the defeat of the Danquah, Busia-Dombo tradition in the crunch 2008 elections.

So, three years into the National Democratic Congress’ administration led by President Atta Mills, for the same person to be holding and flaunting a Diplomatic Passport is shocking and unimaginable. Has Mr. Pratt Jnr. sold his conscience to the President Atta Mills led NDC Government and thrown his self-styled principle to the dogs?

According to the laws of the country, those who are entitled to hold Diplomatic Passports include Ministers, Ambassadors and Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials. It is unclear why the Government of the NDC gave Mr. Pratt Jnr. A Diplomatic Passport but political analysts say it is a bait and reward for him to project positively the dwindling popularity of the seating president and the political fortunes of the NDC Gov ernment because of Mr. Pratt’s access to both radio and television stations.

The Citizen has also established that, the publisher of The Insight has held a gun on the head of NDC Government and exploited the links he has with Committee for Joint Action (CJA) “Boys” he helped get appointed into the Mills’ Government. He has allegedly smuggled one of his sons who is a twin into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the back door. According to political connoisseurs who are well versed in foreign affairs say foreign affairs job seekers go through hectic interviews and the short listed applicants are also made to sit for strict examinations before they could get hold of a job at the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

An aggrieved individual, (name withheld for now) who was sidelined and overlooked even though he had the requisite qualifications coupled with excellent grounding with respect to foreign issues and international relations, to make way for Mr. Pratt’s son, told this paper that nepotism and cronyism is now the order of the day in the President Atta Mills and John Mahama led administration.

Sources at the seat of Government, the Castle also confided in this paper that the other twin son of the Managing Editor of The Insight is now working at the office of the Vice President.

Of course, Mr. Pratt’s children are Ghanaians and are entitled to their constitutional right of equal opportunity, hence The Citizen is not in any way against their success but interested in exposing the hypocrisy of their father who always criticizes people wrongly.

Source: The Citizen Newspaper (+233 27 731 4655) thecitizen.news@yahoo.com