Confusion Over Rachel Boynton’s ‘Big Men’ Documentary At Ghana Screening

bm_headerReports reaching ghnewsnow.com indicate that there was near commotion yesterday at the Best Western Hotel in East Legon, Accra after the screening of Rachel Boynton’s critically acclaimed documentary Big Men.

According to our sources, editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt who was featured extensively in the documentary was seen in a heated argument with David Ampofo, another journalist. David Ampofo run a series of high profile interviews on television prior to the formalization of the industry and is seen by many as an authority of sorts. The source said other dignitaries including ministers of state and other government functionaries were also seen contributing to the ruckus.

Even though it is not clear what exactly sparked the argument, one school of thought is that it began as a result of comments made by Mr. Pratt in the documentary as against positions held by David Ampofo and others. Another school of thought however suggests that sympathizers of the erstwhile Kuffour government under the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) were unhappy with Rachel Boynton’s presentation of issues which Kwesi Pratt endorses.

The documentary Big Men executive produced by Hollywood icon Brad Pitt covers the stories behind the oil industries in Ghana and Nigeria and their relation to western multi-nationals. Some interpret the film to suggest that certain government officials in the NPP under whose watch the final accords for the oil find were initialed were not forthright in the agreements signed with foreign prospectors and investors and some in the ruling National Democratic Congress are seeking to use it as cannon fodder to counter an ever increasing barrage of corruption allegations against the government of President John Mahama.

Those who hold this opinion point to the US government’s investigation of prospecting company Kosmos Energy, for bribery under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (1977); a move which was replicated by the government of the late JEA Mills after he took over from the NPP in 2008. The investigation however failed to indict Kosmos Energy.

Meanwhile, Big Men is set for another screening at the same venue tonight.

 

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