The people versus the press we have in Ghana

I have on two previous occasions, and on this same platform, had cause to express disappointment about some aspects of the Ghanaian Press. Among other things I discussed how Akan news bulletins have become more of story-telling (‘anansesem’), and a platform for people to display their knowledge in proverbs and idiomatic expressions or comedy-making rather than news reading. I also mentioned vulgar expressions, insults, careless talk, unnecessary, uncalled-for, and expensive jokes having become part of news bulletins. In all that, however, perhaps the most serious of all is the obvious insensitivity with which some serious matters are reported.
You can also talk about the indecent haste to report half-truths and sometimes outright lies. For example, on many occasions the number of lives reported lost in an accident turns out to be less than initially reported. Under normal circumstances you would expect the numbers to either remain the same with time or increase as injuries lead to more lives lost. But in recent times, perhaps the greatest goof of all was the initial reports that came out about Castro’s unfortunate incident. For the several hours that I followed it as a developing story the information was that Castro’s lifeless body had been recovered from the water. In the case of Asamoah Gyan he had been rescued but was in critical condition.
When is a Question Appropriate or Inappropriate?
The power of the media in the making or unmaking of personalities or events can never be underestimated. The pen, after all, is said to be mightier than the sword, isn’t it? It is therefore expected that just as children are not allowed to play with knives or sharp objects, media people who have the pen as their main working tool, should not behave as children or irresponsible adults. It is for this reason that so much has been said about responsible journalism. And why not, when after all, by the nature of their work, journalists can enter virtually anywhere and interact with anybody? In many instances it’s they who call the shots and if they so desire, can decide to hit their ‘victims’ anywhere because media men know that their ‘victims’ don’t have the capacity to hit back in equal measure. Whenever they take a stand, anyone out there whose version differs from theirs is not being truthful.
Was Mr. Kenu’s Question to Asamoah Gyan Responsible?
On any level playing field, it would be impossible for anyone not to see how offensive the question posed by the Graphic Reporter, Mr. Daniel Kenu, to Asamoah Gyan at the Black Stars’ final press conference before their match with Uganda was. If for nothing at all, the timing and the occasion was very wrong. First of all, the occasion was neither somebody’s private party nor the venue some drinking place or restaurant. It was a Press Conference ahead of an important qualifying match. So why on earth would anyone want us to believe that a question that had nothing whatsoever to do with football generally or that match specifically would be appropriate on that occasion? I think it was unnecessary, irrelevant and uncalled-for. Better still, it was silly, irresponsible, insensitive, indecent, inappropriate and offensive.
What on earth was the basis for the question on that particular occasion? I hear he cited rumours going round. What a shame! We live in a country where every misfortune, especially deaths, are said to have been caused by somebody. So I’m wondering how many times Mr. Kenu has looked in the eyes of some grieving old lady and asked if it’s true she was the killer of that grand-child of hers.
What rumours haven’t we heard in this country about what led to the death of our late President, Prof. Mills? Is Mr. Kenu not aware of the rumour about who’s supposed to have killed him? So how long is he going to wait before he asks the person rumoured to have killed the late President if indeed he killed him?
Before asking that question what was he expecting for an answer? That perhaps Asamoah Gyan would scratch his head and say “well, yes, I took him there to sacrifice him, so that …”. Or perhaps “I swear it’s not true that I sacrificed him” or what? Or he expected him to ignore him so that the headline in the next issue of ‘Graphic’ would read: “Castro’s Disappearance - Asamoah Gyan refuses to Answer Questions”. And let’s face it. For what purpose would Asamoah Gyan, considering where he has reached in his chosen career, need to sacrifice a human being – in fact two of them – one a star in his own right? And to do that he would travel together with the intended victims to an open holiday destination! This doesn’t make any sense except that some people seem to believe that they need to make it appear so to highlight the alleged assault case.
Defending a Colleague is no Crime
No one can begrudge Ghanaian journalists for supporting one of their own. But there should be some fairness. While no one is applauding Baafuor Gyan for physically attacking Mr. Kenu I would have expected some fair-minded journalists to condemn Mr. Kenu for asking an irresponsible question at the worst possible occasion. It should not be made to appear that only crime is condemnable. Therefore, while they continue to whip Baafuor even as he’s being dealt with by the law, they should have the courage to condemn their colleague too. I heard Kwaku Baako say that even though he wouldn’t have asked that question he doesn’t see anything wrong with it. I am disappointed because if indeed he sees nothing wrong with the question why wouldn’t he ask it? And by the way, since by all accounts, it wasn’t Asamoah Gyan, but his brother, Baaffuor, who allegedly attacked Mr. Kenu, all this issue of ‘Asamoah Gyan is not above the law should stop’.
People’s Reaction to the Attack on the ‘Vim Lady’
Incidentally, Baafuor Gyan’s attack on Mr. Kenu happened to be the third such attack on journalists within a relatively short period. For good reason, this seems to have led some journalists to conclude that the people of Ghana either don’t appreciate their services or are on collision course with them. Nothing can be farther from the truth and the evidence can be found in the genuine outpour of grief following the unexpected death of Komla Dumor. Compare that to the public’s reaction to the attack on Afia Pokuaa of Adom FM, the self-acclaimed ‘Vim Lady’, and you’ll realise that if the people were to elect journalists they would know who to choose and who to reject. That reaction, as demonstrated on Joy FM’s ‘Ghana Connect’ the other day, can be likened to the proverbial “I won’t beat you, but when someone else is beating you I won’t come to your defence”. I’m very sure that if what happened to Afia, a lady, had happened to the likes of Kwaku Baako or Kwame Sefa-Kai, two different gentlemen from two different press houses, the reaction would have been very different. A word to the wise is enough.

Kwame Twumasi-Fofie
Sunyani
kwametwumasi@yahoo.com