Kwesi Pratt condemns praying at work; says it's unproductive

Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr. has commended President Nana Akufo-Addo for urging workers to develop a better attitude towards work.

President Akufo-Addo, delivering a speech on Monday, May 1, to mark the May Day celebrations at the Independence Square in Accra, advised that if the nation is "going to make the changes we all want, then we have to start with a change in attitude to work. Government is ready to do its part and I am counting on you Secretary General to lead the campaign for a change in attitude to work and increase in productivity.

"I have said it at another forum, but I think it bears repeating: we arrive at work late and then spend the first hour in prayer; we are clock watchers and leave in the middle of critical work, because it is the official closing time. Everything comes to a stop when it rains and we seem to expect the rest of the world also to stop."

Commenting on the President's speech on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo', Kwesi Pratt held strongly that the President has hit the nail right on the head because some workers have indeed developed lackadaisical attitudes and also engaged in wasteful activities that erode the country of productivity.

Mr. Pratt condemned lateness to work and using working hours to pray or embark on spiritual exercises.

He wondered how workers could gather at their workplaces praying for an hour or hours when they are supposed to be in their offices working for productivity.

“There’s a place of work where from morning (8 O’clock) when they’re expected to start work; they will now be doing morning devotion for one hour. They will be clapping hands and singing hallelujah for one hour, in the afternoon too – afternoon prayers – another one hour and when they are about to close too – closing prayers – one hour. So, they take 3 hours out of the eight hours we need to work”.

He further called on employers not to compel their employees to undergo such spiritual routines because not all employees may be willing to and also called on them to stop wasting productive hours.

He also lambasted employers and government for failing to also provide the necessary logistics to their employees to ease their workload.

To Mr. Pratt, for the President's advice to be heeded, it will take all parties - both employers and employees - to reorient their minds towards work.