An avowed critic of the USA and an anti-imperialist, Kwesi Pratt Jnr., has been labeled the “most discredited senior journalist” in the country by Samuel Awuku, a deputy Communications Director of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).
His uncomplimentary tag of the seasoned journalist comes on the heels of leaked diplomatic cables churned out by Whistle-blower website, Wikileaks indicating that Mr. Pratt has been wining and dining with the same people he has been repeatedly castigating.
To him, the outspoken Nkrumaist is more or less the most trusted informant for the US and its allies. “You call yourself anti- American and you demonstrate against the Americans, the Jews and Israel in Ghana, but it turns out that you are their most trusted informant…When the Americans tried to establish a military base in Ghana, everybody knew Mr. Pratt’s stance on the matter…But in this same report, it has emerged that this same Pratt who is an anti – American to the ordinary Ghanaian, has turned out to be their most trusted informant,” Awuku said.
According to him, in the leaked diplomatic cables Mr Pratt who is reported by the cables as claiming that opposition NPP Flag bearer Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo uses drugs is also described as a “protected” source. He added that in intelligence gathering any person described as a “protected” or “strictly protected” source in the leaked diplomatic cables are seen as critical sources of information for the US embassy here in Accra.
“If you go to stories on Wikileaks, references to protect and strictly protect in which those that are in writing, US officials are lamenting that the leaks expose people who are classified as protect and strictly protect, back to my mind means that these were important people to the US,” he said.
Touching on comments attributed to the Insight newspaper Editor that Nana Addo smokes marijuana, the NPP’s Deputy Communications Director described Mr. Pratt’s statement as a “stab in the back”. To him, Kwesi Pratt is a bundle of contradictions and once again alluded to articles penned by Mr Pratt prior to the 2000 General Elections which sought to disparage then candidate Mills.
Speaking on Peace FM’s “Kokrooko” programme, Mr. Awuku maintained that the NPP would never place premium on the Wikileaks exposé.
