We present below the full text of a letter we received yesterday from Mr. Kwesi Pratt Jnr. and a reprint of our article, which first appeared in the Monday October 7, 2000 edition of ADM. We invite careful reading of the two texts.
Mr. Pratt himself concedes that nowhere in our article did we mention his name. We take much pride and consolation from that. He claims that some people made deductions from our story and mentioned his name on radio programmes. For that, he expects us to clear his name for other people's deductions. Secondly he says we should name the senior editor.
A careful reading of our story says we are continuing with our investigations. At the time of writing, there have been new developments, which we are taking up with the security agencies.
Mr. Pratt cannot be unaware of our editorial prerogatives and discretionary powers - which we intend to exercise to the fullest. We owe him neither an explanation nor an apology. We have also noted Mr. Pratt's subsequent radio and television hysteria. In our own interest and in the public interest we will stick to our own timetable and methods.
Whose $125,000
The senior echelons of the Ghanaian media fraternity are awash with rumours concerning a senior member who has been "exposed" by a close associate.
Still at the rumour stage, the story has gained such currency that some editors are privately vouching for its veracity. At the time of going to press last week, ADM was still tracing an 024 number and a name associated with royalty given it by a whistleblower to seek confirmation.
What's so tickling the imagination of the media fraternity is that a senior member, not generally known for solvency has recently been discovered by a close associate to be in possession of one hundred and twenty five thousand US dollars in cash.
A number of phone calls to some senior editors to cross-check the veracity of the above has been met with, "that's what I have also heard".
The closest therefore anybody has gotten to unearth the truth therefore lies with the mysterious 024 number and the royal sounding name in possession of ADM.
The story doing the rounds has it that a senior member of the inky fraternity recently gave the wife of a close associate a box to keep. The associate was not at home then. On his return, his wife pointed at the box and said Mr. X said she should give it to him for safekeeping.
A little later, he was overcome by curiosity and decided to peek into the box to make sure what the content was. To his amazement and shock, he saw wads of dollars staring at him. Inexorably, as if hypnotised, he set about counting the money. He counted a hundred and twenty five thousand dollars in mostly one hundred-dollar notes.
Much later, his friend came to claim his box and he asked him, "X, who is all that money for?"
Reply: "Someone is investing in my business."
ADM investigations continue.
ALLEGATIONS AGAINST A SENIOR JOURNALIST
I write with reference to your front page news report headed "WHOSE $125,000?" published in your Monday October 7, 2002 issue.
Your story did not mention my name as the senior journalist involved nor did it state that the money allegedly paid to this journalist was a payoff for unprofessional or biased reportage services. However your story has launched very unhealthy public speculation about media professionals in general and myself in particular. There is a rumour doing the rounds identifying me as the senior journalist involved. Indeed at least one person has phoned into Radio Gold's morning news review and stated categorically that I am the journalist in question. He also suggested that this information was widely known amongst media practitioners. He even claimed that he knew and had spoken to the lady who allegedly received the money from me!
Needless to say, I have never at any time received $125,000 from anybody either as an investment or as a gift. The speed with which the story is spreading suggests a calculated plot to defame me for political reasons.
To end the assault on my reputation, I request that you either publish the name of the senior journalist involved or state publicly that I am not the journalist your newspaper refers to.
It is my hope that you will exercise your best judgement in this matter, knowing that nothing can be more painful than the destruction of an innocent person on the basis of wicked and unfounded rumour.
Kwesi Pratt, Jnr.
