Whoever supplies you rice is a cheat – Kwesi Pratt Jr clashes with Kwabena Kokofu live on TV

An exchange over the rising cost of living, particularly the price of rice, dominated discussions on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana on Thursday, December 26, 2025, as Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr, clashed with former Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr Henry Kwabena Kokofu.

The disagreement occurred during a wider debate on Ghana’s economic performance, import substitution, and the impact of government policies on household prices, with rice becoming the central point of contention.

The exchange grew heated when Dr Kokofu argued that prices of some essential commodities, including rice, had reduced, citing a stronger cedi and improved import conditions.

Kwesi Pratt Jnr, however, rejected the claim, questioning whether such reductions were being felt by ordinary Ghanaians in their daily lives.

He challenged Dr Kokofu’s position by referring to what he described as the lived experiences of consumers, insisting that any supposed price reduction was not widespread.

At the height of the discussion, Pratt remarked, “You’re the only person who is still buying expensive rice. Whoever supplies you rice is a cheat. Stop buying rice from the person because the rice I buy, it’s come down… maybe you are buying the imported rice.”

He suggested that if Dr Kokofu was still paying high prices, then he was either being overcharged by his supplier or shopping in “special places” disconnected from the general market.

The conversation then shifted to the difference between locally produced rice and imported brands.

Dr Kokofu maintained that he buys Ghanaian rice and said prices had not reduced based on his experience.

Pratt countered by accusing Dr Kokofu of indirectly promoting imported rice, arguing that importers benefit from access to cheaper foreign exchange, allowing them to sell imported rice at prices local producers cannot compete with.

According to Pratt, this situation puts local rice farmers and processors at a disadvantage.

“Those producing rice locally cannot compete with them on the market,” he said…CONTINUE MORE READING>>>