Kwesi Pratt's hypocrisy exposed again over free speech

Veteran journalist and political commentator Kwasi Pratt has come under renewed scrutiny following contrasting clips of his commentary on the criminalisation of speech circulating on social media.

In a “then and now” video, he is heard in 2023 speaking on Peace FM following the arrest of some NDC activists who had allegedly made false claims against then First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo. In the clip, Pratt questioned whether individuals should be arrested for making false statements, and referenced earlier cases involving veteran journalists Kwaku Baako and Haruna Atta, who were arrested in 1998 over allegations concerning then First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings.

At the time, he argued against the criminalisation of free speech, stating that there were alternative remedies for addressing such issues.

However, the circulating video also includes a more recent commentary from May 2026, again on Peace FM, in which Pratt is heard acknowledging that the state is governed by laws such as libel, sedition, and contempt. He stated that individuals who breach such laws should be held accountable, adding that if a social media post violates the law and the person is arrested, it should not automatically be framed as an attack on free speech.

The contrasting remarks, made years apart, have sparked debate on social media, with critics pointing to what they describe as inconsistencies in his position on free speech and legal accountability in public discourse.