How Can Rawlings� Commitment To Fighting Corruption Be An Inspiration To You? Pratt Asks Nana Addo

Managing Editor of the �Insight� newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr., is of the opinion that Nana Akufo Addo�s landmark visit to former President Jerry John Rawlings, at the latter�s residence, was for purely �partisan, political and mutual advantage�. To him, while the NPP flagbearer sought to boost his personality and score high on the mark sheets of the electorate, the former President was also seeking to enhance his relevance in politics especially after some members of the ruling National Democratic Congress posited that he (Rawlings) no longer matters in the NDCs scheme of things. Nana Akufo-Addo, and his campaign team, paid a courtesy call on the ex-President on Thursday at his Ridge residence. Accompanied by the party�s National Chairman, Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey; First Vice Chairman of the NPP, Fred Oware; Press Secretary to Nana Addo, Herbert Krapa; and a host of other staffers, Nana Addo explained that his visit was to assure him (Rawlings) of his (Akufo-Addo�s) commitment to peace in the upcoming elections as well as ensure that Ghana�s democracy was entrenched and strengthened. The former president and the NPP flagbearer have known each other since their youthful days, but have been at the opposite side of the political divide since 1992 when the country adopted multi-party rule. It is an open secret that the two, have in previous campaigns, made a go at each other, thus the visit created a big buzz in media circles as almost all the media houses in Accra congregated at the residence of the former president to witness the event. But speaking as a panelist on Kokrokoo, Peace FM�s flagship morning show, Kwesi Pratt opined that aside the reasons he has stated above, another ground for the meeting between the two was the fact that Mr Rawlings, has for some time now, been hitting hard at members of his own party; which obviously suits the NPP. �The people who were at the meeting were seeking advantages and that is the truth. Whether you like it or not, this meeting enhances the relevance of Rawlings in our politics; it makes him a key player at a time when he is being ignored by his own party members. For somebody like Nana Akufo Addo, it is also a major booster. They have all gained a mutual advantage from this meeting and that is why the meeting was held. We shouldn�t hide from these facts�,� Kwesi Pratt said. The Senior Journalist however took the NPP flagbearer to task for saying Mr Rawlings is an inspiration to him for his commitment to integrity and fight against corruption. �If you want to concentrate on instantaneous gains, you will definitely regret in the near future. If today you (Nana Addo) claim to be inspired by former President Rawlings, well it�s ok; let�s wait for a couple of months�six months time. Should Nana Addo win this year�s elections and be sworn in as President, then we can tell if he still considers Jerry Rawlings� commitment to fighting corruption an inspiration to him�If because of cheap political points, we indulge in such actions, we will all reap its fruits one day,� Mr. Pratt presaged.