<<Print>>

The Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr. has vehemently rubbished claims by former Attorney General and Minister of Justice in Kufuor�s administration, Nii Ayikoi Otoo that Ghana�s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was an opportunist. Mr. Pratt described lawyer Ayikoi Otoo�s choice of words as an affront to disrespect the founder�s image after his leadership toiled to gain independence. He believes that not all understands the philosophies of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah so therefore criticisms are not vetoed but to the extents of tagging him as an opportunist is unacceptable. The ace journalist was reacting to Nii Ayikoi Otoo�s personal process to change the recognition bestowed on Dr. Kwame Nkrumah as the Founder of Ghana. According to Lawyer Ayikoi Otoo, a claim that Dr. Kwame Nkrumah founded Ghana was a travesty and naked distortion of Ghana�s history which will be reversed when the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) regains power. Lawyer Ayikoi Otoo however insisted that Ghana�s first president was simply an opportunist who rode on the back of the hard work done by leaders of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) to rise to national fame. Adding, Nkrumah took advantage of the parameters set by the UGCC for his Independence now campaign. But speaking on Adom TV�s political talk show �Badwam� on Tuesday, outspoken Kwesi Pratt who is certain in the ideology of Dr. Nkrumah disagrees with the head of the legal committee of the NPP, Ayikoi Otoo and believes his utterances are unfortunate. �Even if what he (Ayikoi Otoo) is saying is the truth, why the insults? If he wants to insult, among all the people in Ghana, he chose Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. He (Dr. Kwame Nkrumah) is not only known in Ghana but the whole of Africa as their first and foremost hero�he (Dr. Kwame Nkrumah) is now been described as an opportunist, this is unbelievable,� he bemoaned. He however noted that, former President Kufuor in his tenure lauded Dr. Kwame Nkrumah for his immense contributing towards Ghana�s development which has been recognized worldwide. �President Kufour from his first African Union (AU) meeting said at the airport (Kotoka International Airport) that, he was well recognized and respected from Ghana because of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah�s governance. Prez Kufuor will never insult Dr. Kwame Nkrumah to that extent...he will never,� he said. He also alleged that, ��There are some individuals in the NPP party who want to tarnish the image of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah�.