The Editor-in-Chief of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt has rebuked President Nana Akufo-Addo for chastising the Chief of Mempeasem, Nii Torgbor Obodai Ampaw VI, for failing to stand up when the national anthem was played.
The incident which occurred on Friday, 9th June, 2023 at the University of Ghana, Legon, during the Green Ghana Day Celebration infuriated the President who angrily directed the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey, to deliver a message to the Chief.
Following the incident, the Chief has offered an explanation to why he couldn't be on his feet, disclosing it was due to ill-health and has apologized for his inaction.
"I would like to state for the records that I did not elect to willfully refuse to stand to observe the National Anthem. No patriotic son of the land would do so let alone a chief, mores in the presence of the President and other distinguished guests. I did not stand to observe the National Anthem because I felt weak. Even though I was not well and was on medication, I had endeavored to attend the programme because I share in the vision of the President for the Green Ghana Day initiative. I was hoping everything would go as planned so I could retire home in time to continue with my recuperation.
"Unfortunately for me, the programme commenced rather late. I had been sitting for a considerable period of time and thus felt weak from the effects of the medication and my ill-health by the time the National Anthem was being observed which was why I was unable to stand on my feet to observe it", he said in an offficial statement.
Addressing the issue during Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" discussion programme, Kwesi Pratt descended on the President stating he should have exercised restraint in reprimanding the Chief publicly.
"There are some things that he doesn't have to intervene personally. He signals somebody else to do it because the office comes with so much weight and authority", he said, stressing if the President had bottled up his emotions and first sought to know why the Chief was seated, he would have known the real cause which wouldn't have engendered his reaction.
To Mr. Pratt, the Chief never faulted in any way because his condition couldn't allow for him to stand up for the national anthem.
"It's never true that everybody must stand up when the national anthem is played. It cannot be true because some people cannot stand up. We have cripples in this country. Does it mean the cripple must stand up when the national anthem is played? It's impossible!
"There are pregnant women in Ghana and with some, when the pregnancy reaches the period of 7 months to 8 months, it's difficult for her to stand on her feet. It is impossible. There are some people who due to sickness cannot stand up. So, when the national anthem is played and you see someone sitting, it is important to find out why before you blame the person", he insisted.
