Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper has expressed worry about how the US embassy sent out a warning to its citizens in the country ahead of the Supreme Court’s final judgement of the 2012 election petition.
“There is nothing wrong with informing their people, but how it was announced is worrisome. It adds to the sense of insecurity and fear; it doesn’t help the nation,” Kwesi Pratt told sit-in host of ‘Kokrokoo’, Nana Yaw Kesse.
Kwesi Pratt’s comment comes on the heels of a US Embassy statement issued on Monday, August 19, 2013, warning its citizens in the country to take note of “potential increase in political tensions and the possibility of isolated violence associated with the anticipated August 29 announcement of the Ghanaian Supreme Court’s decision on the legal challenge to Ghana’s election results”.
The statement titled: “Security Message for U.S. Citizens: Potential Reaction to the Supreme Court’s Election Decision”, further urged “U.S. citizens in Ghana” to maintain “a high level of vigilance and to take appropriate steps to increase their security/safety awareness during this politically-sensitive period”.
According to the Managing Editor, there was no need to issue out such a statement because “nothing go happen”.
“Up to now, I don’t see anything that shows there will be violence in this country after the final verdict. I don’t see where the war mongering and the peace industry are coming from. If the Supreme Court has given its verdict, why will you hurt me; what is my offense? And the Supreme Court is also doing their work and so there is no basis for worry. Ghanaians are wise and so those war mongers are the ones creating fear and panic, and that is exactly what the Americans have done,” he said.
Kwesi Pratt Jnr. said even though peace efforts have been made, there will still be a few miscreant who will try to create confusion; however, “I have full confidence in the security apparatus in the country and I know they will surely rise up to the occasion”.
