Veteran journalist and managing editor of the Insight Newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr., has sharply criticised the Government of Ghana’s response to new trade tariffs imposed by the United States, describing the Foreign Affairs Ministry’s official statement as “absolutely useless.”
The U.S. decision, pushed under President Donald Trump’s policies, introduces a 10% levy on Ghanaian exports, a move Pratt believes undermines Ghana’s sovereignty and deserves a far stronger response.
“This is lying down for Uncle Trump to walk all over us,” Pratt declared in a scathing critique of government inaction.
According to Pratt, the statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs lacked accountability, coherence, and assertiveness.
“And then we go and issue this statement. Somehow, maybe I think it’s the normal procedure, which is fine. It is unsigned, there is no name to it, there is no office to it, so you can’t tell.
“It is even possible that the Minister of Foreign Affairs himself may have problems with this”
Kwesi Pratt Jnr., Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper
Calling it potentially “a desk officer’s work,” Pratt stated flatly, “It is an absolutely useless statement which does not protect our interest, which does not even identify our interest.”
He urged government leaders not to hide behind procedural anonymity when Ghana’s economic interests are on the line.
“When did we lose our sense of sovereignty?” he asked, completely baffled at the steps taken to address the tariff imposition so far.
Pratt took exception to what he described as the Ministry’s defeatist posture, which implied that Ghana was too weak to challenge the United States diplomatically.
“Now we are told that ‘oh, Ghana is too weak, so Ghana cannot fight The United States Of America,’ and I’m sitting back and I’m wondering, what is happening to us?”
Kwesi Pratt Jnr., Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper
According to him, sovereignty must remain the driving force of Ghana’s foreign policy, even in the face of global power asymmetries.
“Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah said look, in our fight to retain our sovereignty, maintain our sovereignty, we will take assistance from our friends and so on but nothing can prevent us or hold us down when it comes to issues of sovereignty and the pursuit of the national interest”
Kwesi Pratt Jnr., Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper
Diplomatic Leverage
Pratt asserted that Ghana is far from powerless and holds significant leverage through its participation in regional and global blocs.
“Ghana is a member of the Economic Community of West African States, that’s a leverage we have. Ghana is a member of the African Union, that’s a leverage we have. Ghana is a member of the Non-Aligned Movement, that’s the leverage we have – we have so many”
Kwesi Pratt Jnr., Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper
He noted that Ghana’s role as host of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat and its hosting of a forward operating base of AFRICOM serve as significant geostrategic assets.
“As we speak, NATO, which includes The United States Of America, is asking for permission to establish drone bases in Ghana – Ghana, Côte D’ivoire, and Benin. Is that not strength enough?”
Kwesi Pratt Jnr., Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper
He also referenced Ghana’s history of resilience in the face of oppression, and its track record of blazing the political, economic and social trail in Africa as yet another place the country could draw strength from.
Banking on this, Kwesi Pratt suggested that Ghana puts its diplomatic leverage to use to “sway” other affected African countries to stand assertively against the oppressive tariff.
To Pratt, the time has come for Ghana to stop adopting a passive posture. He believes that strong diplomatic action is the only language global bullies like the United States understand.
“Look, the bully does not stop bullying when he sees that you are crying. The bully stops misbehaving only if the bully realizes that he has a price to pay for bullying.
“We must make it clear that we will make them pay that price if they continue on this tangent”
Kwesi Pratt Jnr., Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper
He was quick to clarify that his criticism is not an appeal for a hostile confrontation with the U.S., but a call for Ghana to assert its economic interests with clarity and courage.
“We are not asking our government to fight The United States. We are insisting that our government should do the right thing to protect the national interest”
Kwesi Pratt Jnr., Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper
As of now, the government has not issued a direct or high-level response to the 10% tariffs.
Pratt’s forceful comments now place pressure on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to clarify Ghana’s position and assert its sovereignty more convincingly on the global stage.
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