The Public Needs To Be Well-Informed In Times Of National Tragedy

There's one thing we do in Africa, with Ghana as case study, which I never understand: it's been 24 hours since the nation suffered an unprecedented catastrophy of cataclysmic proportion.

And as we speak, there hasn't been any officially-chronicled of events leading to the incident, by the relevant State institutions, unlike what pertains in our counterparts of the global North.

In these well-advanced jurisdictions, with America or Britain as case study, such an air catastrophe would've elicited periodic press briefings by the Armed forces, fire service, NADMO, etc.

Inform the citizens

This is to keep the citizens abrest with causes of the incident, efforts to retrieve remains of victims, process to identify them, helpline to provide bereaved families with psychological support, etc.

But rather, things have been left in the arena of speculation, with irresponsible people engaged in reckless conspiracy theories, while visits to the victims' homes and tributes have taken the centre stage.

Good example

For example, 16 school children perished in a road accident a fortnight ago, but no information was provided Ghanaians by the relevant State institutions, and they've since been buried.

Whoever's fault it was for that tragic accident, was neither investigated and brought to justice, nor, the nation given any updates by the relevant State institutions, vis-a-vis what happened.

I don't believe this is an example which is impossible to follow, and we must do well to learn, in order not to allow speculations and conspiracy theorists have a field day, in our national grief.

Unethical media

Again, and most importantly, this habit of media people gate-crashing at the homes of the bereaved families and, literally, thrusting microphones into their noses, is unethical, journalistically.

Grieving family members are to be given the utmost privacy to mourn their departed members in peace and tranquility, but not be made the cynosure of all eyes, in their times of disconsolating.

And instead of talking to aviation experts and pilots in order to understand what must've happened to lead to the accident, the media is rather wasting valuable airtime on conspiracy theorist jesters.

Gentle souls

May the Lord Almighty receive the gentle souls of these fallen compatriots in His bosom, and comfort the bereaved families in such a time of unprecedented loss and heartwrenching national grief.

Justice A. Newton-Offei
[email protected]