The University of Cape Coast (UCC) has conferred an honorary Doctor of Letters degree on veteran journalist, publisher and Pan-Africanist Kwesi Pratt Jnr., recognising more than five decades of work in journalism, public communication and public discourse.
Mr Pratt received the D.Litt. honoris causa on Friday, September 18, 2026, during a special congregation at the university following the second session of the 15th Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Lectures.
The university said the honour recognised his distinguished service to humanity and his contributions to journalism, public discourse and Pan-African thought.
The conferment capped a two-day appearance at UCC during which Mr Pratt delivered the memorial lectures under the theme, “Kwame Nkrumah, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow: Perspectives on Constitutionalism, Development and Pan-Africanism.”
UCC Chancellor, Dr (Sir) Sam Esson Jonah, said the university was also recognising the importance of independent journalism, civic engagement and the role of public discourse in sustaining democracy.
Mr Pratt’s association with journalism stretches back to 1969 when he began his broadcasting career as co-host of the Uncle Frank Show on GBC Radio.
By the mid-1970s, he had become a familiar voice and face on GBC radio and television, appearing as a panellist on Leaders of Tomorrow and presenting programmes including In Town and Talking Point.
He entered print journalism in 1975 as a reporter with the Ghanaian Times before joining the Ghana News Agency as a senior reporter in 1976.
His career subsequently took him through public communication and journalism positions including Public Relations Officer of the National Youth Council, Central Regional Secretary of the Ghana Journalists Association, editor of Frontline Message, Secretary of the National Youth Organising Commission and Public Relations Officer at the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
He also worked at the Information Services Department and served as Public Relations Officer for the Ministry of Fuel and Power before becoming Associate Editor of The Ghanaian Voice in 1987.
In 1993, Mr Pratt founded The Insight newspaper, which he has edited for more than three decades.
He was elected President of the Private Newspaper Publishers Association of Ghana in 1994 and published the book Street People in 1995.
His public service has also included membership of the National Media Commission from 2014 and serving as Chairman of the Board of Kasapa Mobile Communications Company since 2016.
Since 2020, he has served as General Secretary of the Socialist Movement of Ghana and as a member of the leadership of the Pan-Africanism Today Project.
He has also served on the Advisory Council of the International People’s Assembly since 2021.
His work has attracted recognition beyond Ghana. In 2025, he received the Ghana Journalists Association Award for Championing Press Freedom and was awarded the Medal of Friendship by the Government and People of Cuba.
Born on August 9, 1953, Mr Pratt received his early education in Accra and Kumasi before attending Nima I Middle School, Presbyterian Boys’ Boarding School at Aburi and Tema Secondary School.
He later received professional journalism training at the Ghana Institute of Journalism.
The honorary doctorate came as Mr Pratt used the UCC platform to revisit the ideas of Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, and their relevance to contemporary questions of governance, economic development and African self-determination.
His two lectures placed particular emphasis on the limitations of constitutional reform without changes in political conduct, and the need for African countries to build productive economies capable of reducing dependence on foreign goods and capital.
The UCC honour therefore marked not only recognition of a long career in the media but also the culmination of a two-day intellectual engagement centred on questions that have defined much of Mr Pratt’s public life: journalism, political accountability, African development and Pan-Africanism.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
