Fathers have been praised for their sacrifices, responsibility, and dedication to their families during a Father’s Day celebration organized by Ahotor FM.
Veteran Ghanaian journalist and Managing Editor of Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr., who was the Guest Speaker, commended fathers present at the event for their commitment to building and supporting their families, describing their efforts as a true reflection of fatherhood.
He noted that not all fathers can be described as responsible fathers, explaining that a father is someone who works hard to secure a better future for his children and whose actions positively impact both family and society at large.
According to him, fathers present at the programme were particularly special, as their children called into the Ahotor FM phone-in segment to express appreciation and congratulate them for their dedication and sacrifices. Some of the callers indicated that without the love and support of their fathers, they would not have achieved their current levels of success. He encouraged fathers to continue their good work and remain committed to the welfare and development of their children.
Mr. Pratt also commended Ahotor FM for organizing the Father’s Day celebration, describing it as a laudable initiative despite the financial and operational challenges facing media houses, especially in securing advertising revenue.
Touching on global issues, he expressed concern about the impact of conflict and leadership decisions on human lives, noting that individuals who preside over or supervise acts of violence and the killing of innocent people should not be regarded as fathers in the moral and societal sense. He referenced historical and contemporary conflicts, including the assassination of Congolese independence leader Patrice Lumumba, to underscore his point.
He also highlighted the humanitarian consequences of ongoing global conflicts, including the war in Gaza, and the resulting suffering, loss of civilian lives, and broader economic effects such as rising fuel prices, unemployment, and increased cost of living.
Mr. Pratt further cautioned against the growing use of hate speech and inflammatory rhetoric in public discourse, warning that such behaviour threatens Ghana’s peace and democratic stability. He observed that social media platforms are increasingly being used to issue threats and make provocative statements against leaders and institutions.
He emphasized that sustainable peace and development can only be achieved when citizens and leaders reject violence and embrace dialogue. He urged the public to use social media responsibly, stressing that words carry consequences and must be used to promote unity rather than division.
He also raised concern over what he described as “appalling trends” on social media, where individuals—particularly young people—make reckless and violent statements on public platforms. He cited instances in which a young woman allegedly made threatening remarks against the President and his spouse, as well as another case involving a young man who reportedly threatened on television to burn a political party’s headquarters, noting with concern that such comments are sometimes met with laughter rather than condemnation.
Mr. Pratt questioned the kind of future such behaviour is shaping, stressing that such statements should be strongly condemned as they do not contribute to national development but instead promote division, conflict, and instability. He called for society to take a firm stand, stating that “enough is enough,” and urged responsible use of media and speech in order to safeguard the country’s future.
Story by Freedom Etsey Lavoe