Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jr, has tackled Paul Adom-Otchere following a comment he made about the John Mahama administration scaling down Independence Day celebrations.
Kwesi Pratt quizzed Paul Adom-Otchere if Independence Day are celebrated to make people money for themselves, adding that Adom-Otchere must quit the childishness.
According to Kwesi Pratt, Independence Day should focus on honouring the sacrifices of the country’s founding leaders to inspire citizens to take ownership of the country’s resources and work towards national self-reliance.
He further questioned the current form of celebrations and proposed alternative ways of marking the day.
He proposed that educational programmes in schools should emphasise Ghana’s history, as well as sporting and cultural activities that promote national unity.
The veteran journalist also suggested that nationwide sports events across regions and cultural showcases highlighting Ghanaian food and traditions.
Speaking on Good Morning Ghana, Kwesi Pratt Jr stated, “Do we celebrate Independence Day to make people money for themselves? We should quit the childishness. Independence Day is celebrated to venerate our forebears who stood for our liberty”.
“Independence Day is much more important than just a commercial activity, and I’m worried that some analysts reduce it to that,” he stated.
He further quizzed, “Whether we organise a parade at the Black Star Square or Jubilee House, what does it do to make our people wake up to their history and live up to the demands of that history?”
“If at the end of the celebration Ghanaians are awakened to the need to own their own resources and exploit these resources for their own benefit, wouldn’t that be a step forward?” he added.
His comments follow Paul Adom-Otchere, who fired shots at the John Dramani Mahama-led government over its scaled-down Independence Day celebration since it assumed office.
According to Paul Adom-Otchere, the Mahama government’s reduction in expenditure for the Independence Day celebration is hurting ordinary Ghanaians who used to make some money during the celebrations.
Paul Adom-Otchere highlighted that the Mahama government’s decision is denying Ghanaians the joy of celebrating the country’s independence with the drastic cut of its expenditure.
He further argued that the Mahama government is incurring unnecessary expenses that benefit only a few, like the renaming og the Kotoka International Airport.
Speaking during a panel discussion on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana, Adom Otchere stated, “The Independence spending, while it is government spending, is a major stimulant of the economy in all of those places. So the budget of 17 million cedis that is applied, they buy 4000 flags made by Ghanaians. They know that every march, so they prepare for it. Lord Commey used to be in charge of it”.
Ashanti region gets theirs, Brong Ahafo region, the GES also get their Independence budget for rehearsals, they contact the kenkey seller, and on Independence day, they give the children food. That is what it is about; it is not about any politician spending money”.
“President Mahama has been there before he knows it. Independent spending across the country is an economic stimulant. Our problem is not spending. Our concern is that when the government is spending, it must spend on things that benefit the people, not on itself”.
“The Independence spending goes right down to the grassroots of your political party, right down to the basic end of the society, everybody benefits from Ghana’s independence. That is why people are saying that the Independence vibe is gone. It is a point of National Unity, and you spend taxpayers’ money on that, that is not what you should be cutting, you should be cutting other things”, he added.
Adom-Otchere further added, “You rename Kotoka International Airport and pay money to who? One contractor. Independence (celebration) is going to thousands of people, you won’t pay. The greatest good is to the greatest number of people. I don’t know how the government is going to sustain a very dull 70th anniversary celebration of Ghana’s independence… Is that what is going to happen? The march bonuses of all the kenkey sellers are gone. The people who make flags, march bonuses, gone.
“John Mahama has taken it. He doesn’t want to share it. But when it’s about them, they do it. The ministers bought cars. Goldboard has money. It’s with people. We see all these things, but the very basic guy, you say that I don’t want to spend, and you are presenting it as prudence. That is why you are hearing the noises you are hearing. I’m not making those noises. That is what all the media are saying: ‘Ah, is this really Independence Day?’” he lamented.
The Renowned broadcaster Paul Adom-Otchere added, “You (sic) send them zero cedis. You send Kumasi zero, you send Secondi zero, and Azim zero. District assembly, zero. North Dayi, zero, everywhere, zero. Then we go home. Quiet. Are we not independent? Are we not proud of it anymore? Do we not want to be the Black Star of Africa anymore? Why are we quenching the fire of the nation with these settings and overzealous ‘I’m not corrupt’… Nobody has told you not to chase your ghost, not to chase shadows. Present what the people of Ghana are used to”.
We should be able to do this every month, but you can’t do it every month. So, at least, that sacred March event, let it go,” he said, arguing that the over GH¢17 million spent on Independence Day celebrations by the previous Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government was insignificant, looking at the size of Ghana’s economy”.
Watch the video below: