Opinions of Saturday, 13 August 2011
Columnist: Tawiah, Francis
Media has prejudged Obinim? they're liable for contempt- Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr. has expressed his resentment at the comments by some media commentators and editorials in some newspapers on the Bishop Daniel Obinim sex scandal and his attack on staff of Hot FM, an Accra-based commercial radio station. >>> Kwesi!, the so-called Bishop Obinim, apart from the fact that he has been womanising, as married man an as a so-claimed "Bush-shop" or what ever you or he calls himself he has assaulted and caused damages to personal properties he is therefore liable to public criticisms and court actions.
Founder of the International God's Way Church (IGWC), Bishop Obinim, is alleged to have had an affair with the wife of one his junior pastors which was the subject for discussion on the station's programme ?Nyaasem ne hye? on Monday. In addition, a voice recording of Obinim was played on air and issues about his (Obinim's) wife and associated pastors were highlighted. >>> Kwesi! what do you mean by "Nya Asem Hye"? Do you want to tell the public to shut up about such a case? A pretender as Man of God, who is only hiding behind the Bible to deceive the weak ones? Was it not only last two weeks or so when another so-called Pastor from Kumasi-Tanoso was arrested having pulled a pistole to snatch a taxi which he had hired with his accomplice from Kumasi to the Brong-Ahafo Region.
Infuriated by airing of the tape and that the fact he was not called to state his side of the story, the IGWC General Overseer, together with some of his pastors stormed the premises of Hot FM and allegedly vandalized property belonging to the station. >>> And what is the results now for his vandalism? HANDCUFF AND BEHIND BARS, not because of infuriation by airing of the tape but, could not believe that his time has come. "EVERYDAY FOR THE THIEF, BUT ONE DAY WILL BE FOR THE OWNER." Kwesi! don't try to support the "Man of Satan" blindly but encourage OBINIM to throw away all his Voodoo or black power obtained from Kwaku Bonsam and surround himself properly to GOD.
Following the incident, he was arrested and arraigned before an Accra Circuit Court on Tuesday and charged with conspiracy, causing harm and damage. The accused persons pleaded not guilty. The court presided over by Mr Eric Kyei-Baffour admitted them to bail in the sum of GH?50,000 each with two sureties each. >>> I wonder if the "Bush-shop" Obinim will continue to call himself Bishop after the court has tried him.
Speaking to the issue on Metro TV's ?Good Morning Ghana? programme, Kwesi Pratt indicted some journalists for passing judgement on the case which is before court, pointing out that they could be cited with contempt of court. >>> You see how quick things can happen, when Kwesi Pratt climbs to the apex of his hypocrisy? Slowly but sure Prof. Dr. Dr. Pratt has accepted "the man of Satan", Obinim as his client, Kwesi Pratt is now trying to cite (suing) some journalist (for Obinim) with contempt of court.
?I am worried with the standard of reporting because the case is in court and it is the court which decides the validity of the evidence. However, in this case it is the newspapers that are making judgements and condemning the pastor. This should not be the case. The journalist could be charged for contempt of court. We can talk about this but not judge the man of God because when a case is in court we restrain from making judgement. However, we can comment on their conduct and not condemn the person...,? he said. >>> WE CANNOT JUDGE THE MAN OF GOD! You don't mean it! A guy who has given himself the title PASTOR? A guy who sleeps with the wife of his co-workers? A Guy who uses the bible as a camouflage? Kwesi Pratt!, Please stop your cheap seeking of popularity!
Pratt!, notwithstanding this, the seasoned journalist bemoaned the influx of what he describes as ?charlatans? parading as pastors nowadays. To him, pastors are not different from the ordinary man on the street. >>> Journalist too are not different from Pastors.
?Pastors are just like some of us they do what we do and sometimes they even do worse than that, there are too many charlatans in priesthood. However when the issue is in court, comments concerning it, are restricted. The law says we should not be making prejudicial statements and an example of this is when the newspaper said, his sins has caught up with him? All the allegations levelled against him needs to be proven in court after evidence are provided?, he added. >>>Kwesi! I wish you well, but one thing is still haunting me. Why, you of all people, Kwesi Pratt was strictly against Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings ambition to contesting Mills as the flag-bearer of the NDC for the 2012 election. Kwesi Pratt, who is in my opinion, the most hypocrite journalist in the history of Ghana will "preach for water but he personally will drink the most expensive wine"
LET'S ALL CONTRIBUTE TO MAKE OUR COUNTRY GHANA A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE.
FRANCIS TAWIAH (Duisburg - Germany)