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| Kwesi Pratt Shocks Peace FM |
1/16/2007 |
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There was drama at the studios of Peace FM, an Accra-based private radio station, on Friday morning when one of the panelists on the newspaper review programme, Kwesi Pratt Jnr, walked out barely a short while after he was introduced. Pratt, Managing Editor of Insight, apparently unhappy with the presence of what he described as two New Patriotic Party (NPP) members on the Kokroko Morning Show programme hosted by Kwame Sefa-Kayi, took the exit route and never returned to the studio again.
According to Kwesi, he was not comfortable with the presence of the two NPP activists, Hon Isaac Asiamah, MP for Atwima Mponua and Abdulai Jinapor, popularly called Abu, and therefore would not be part of the show. Not even an appeal by the presenter, Kwame and his producers would convince Kwesi, CEO of Militant Publications, to rescind his decision. In a language suggesting that he had had enough of Peace FM machinations, Kwesi took his seat at the studio and after his introduction, walked out.
The explanation that Abu only came in as the last minute replacement for Randy Abbey, host of Good Morning Ghana on Metro TV and that Hon Twumasi Appiah, NDC MP for Sene, was on his way to the studio, fell on deaf ears. The Insight boss said the presence of the two NPP activists would not allow him to engage in quality debate, which statement Asiamah was reported to have taken exception to.
Kwame therefore assured Kwesi that Hon Twumasi Appiah would provide him with support since he was on his way to the programme. The presenter even pointed out to Kwesi, who was on the programme not as a politician but a journalist, that even last Wednesday, Kwaku Baako Jnr, Editor-in-Chief of Crusading Guide, was sandwiched between two NDC activists, Ama Benyiwa-Doe, Women’s Organiser and Baba Jamal, Deputy General Secretary, but nobody complained.
Egbert Faibelle of Ghanaian Observer, a regular panelist on Wednesdays, did not show up on that day. After assurances from the presenter and producers, Kwesi finally took his seat at the studio to commence the programme, with Kwame in the driving seat. However, to the shock of the host, after introducing Mr. Pratt, the Insight boss quickly said he would not be part of the show and walked out. Daily Guide learnt that Kwame’s countenance changed but he managed to control his emotions and apologised calmly to listeners, saying Kwesi had left due to circumstances beyond his control. Meanwhile, when Mr. Pratt walked to the car park, he conferred with Twumasi Appiah who had just arrived for the show.
Kwesi, Daily Guide learnt, wanted his own ground rules, which demanded that the producers presented one representative each of NPP and NDC, with him representing the Convention People’s Party (CPP).
Daily Guide
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