Editorial: Public figures and their pronouncement

So the second lady, Mrs. Matilda Amissah Arthur, made a comment that would have ordinarily passed off as innocuous. The now infamous 'we won't give you chalk' outburst or lambaste if you like has travelled miles in our media with reactions, counter reaction, an apology and all.

Its ripples have been in several folds spanning the (party) political, the academic, social, economic and of course the jocular aspect of it in the general scheme of events. The second lady has since offered an apology which has in itself stoked some heat for some reason.

In today's editorial, we look at the pronouncement of public figures and the reactions that they have more often than not whipped up. This piece is more of a panoramic perspective on the issue.

The foremost public figures as far we know are those who stand for and are elected to take public office and or others who are beneficiaries of political appointments.

The popular belief is that, insofar as tax payers money goes to fund their upkeep, they owe it a responsibility to be accountable to the tax payer whenever, wherever and however. So from the executive through to the legislature and appointees within the local government structure; there should always be a symbiotic relationship with the public at all times.

Hitherto, social gatherings like speech and prize-giving days, durbars, festivals, funerals, etc. were the main interface between public and these public servants. Media proliferation, especially radio, has changed that. Today public figures make media appearances and grant interviews to different media on a daily basis as they jostle for space to sell their political ideologies and plans of action.

But what do we usually get as a people?

More often than not, we are as a people subjected to very hot-headed and dismissive posturing by public officials some of who ridicule the masses, downplay our critically crucial concerns and at times flatly flout constitutional mandates of accountability.

Many are those who hide behind the cloak of security of tenure to talk 'rubbish' to the public and yet we have to contain them. Another batch of worse culprits are political party apparatchiks (communicators as some call themselves) who have become audacious over the years.

Whiles those in the ruling party speak like they are officials of the state, those in opposition also refuse to see anything right. In the long run, there is always one group accusing the other of doing same or worse when they were in charge, A nauseatingly blatant 'justification of wrongdoing.'

The second lady is someone we hardly hear of comparatively, but this perhaps should be a lesson to others that it matters not where you speak, but what you speak and importantly, the tone in which you speak. Madam's choice of words and tone left much to be desired we must admit.

The apology has come; some are still displeased that it started with the word 'if' but the point must be made that, the second lady has done what many officials refuse to do. Communication blips hit the greatest orators of all time and maybe should be pardoned.

The good thing about her blip however is in the generous social drive to 'spoil' Kukurantumi Presby Basic School with chalk, the school by now should be able to donate chalk to others schools. So they say, in every evil lies a little good, the opposite serve true.

God bless our homeland Ghana.