I do not condone attacks on journalists, even those asking what might be considered by some to be, ‘sebi,’ “stupid” questions!
I appreciate the anger and angst of Daniel Kenu’s supporters following what might be considered his unilateral withdrawal of the Gyan assault case, the massive support from professional colleagues notwithstanding.
Coming in the wake of similar attacks against other journalists, many had positioned this as the opportunity to teach would-be attackers a good lesson. In the shocking anticlimax, Kenu is suffering widespread ridicule.
Some allege without basis that he has been bribed. His professional colleagues feel affronted.
Suddenly, the journalist who was investigating rumours surrounding Gyan’s involvement in Castro’s disappearance is at the receiving end of wicked rumours!
Understanding of social forces
After pondering the aforementioned matters awhile, I am inclined to beg for forgiveness for Kenu from his colleagues and supporters. I wish also to call for greater understanding of what I may term the power of social forces.
These forces should never be underrated. I will give examples to show how these social forces can exert such undue pressure on an individual or organisations that you may be forced to succumb and crumble against your better judgement.
Three reasons
What reasons did Kenu give for withdrawing the Gyan assault case from the courts, allowing his assaulters to be acquitted and discharged? One, his blood pressure was increasing.
Two, an elderly uncle, Efo Kwame, who had been pressurising him to drop the case because “the name of the family had been in the media too much lately” had suddenly passed on.
Three, the potential of his hypertensive mother also dying was great. He decided that the events “were too striking” to be discounted.
From the above reasons, one sees the interconnectedness of the sociology of ill health, social status of family, traditional beliefs and religious faith. The above three reasons, for me, represent a classic depiction of the power of social forces. Only the strong stay their original course. Many others fall by the roadside.
Let me illustrate this by a strike action by doctors for instance.
To some, the decision by the leadership of doctors to declare a strike is an easy one to take, little realising what these leaders endure. Apart from being the least desirable last option in any industrial dispute, the power of social forces are exerted maximally whenever this period of great tension and unease occurs.
I know leaders who have been confronted and told, “We know your family background. We are very surprised and disappointed you should be doing this!” Social forces!
During one such prolonged strike action, the wife of one executive member finally ended up stopping her normal church activities. Why? Because whenever she got to church, the pastor would call for mass open and loud prayers for the ongoing strike, asking God to touch the hearts of the wicked doctors etc.
Nobody was interested in any long winding stories indicting the government on account of broken promises. All they wanted was a return to normalcy and for that, great and mighty prayers were poured on doctors’ heads! She stopped going to church. Social forces!
In my own case, my mother called me very late one night, asking me to listen to one FM Station where insults were being heaped on doctors. This was quite apart from the harsh negative feedback she had received from some of her colleagues. I could only imagine. But after a full day attending fruitless meetings to settle the impasse. This was the last thing I wanted to hear at 10p.m. I thanked her for her concern but turned down the offer. Perhaps, I was also spoiling the family name? Social forces!
In one hospital, an apparently healthy employee just died in his sleep one night. How concerned colleagues were. So concerned, in fact, that the hospital offered to fund a full-blown autopsy to determine the cause of death.
If the episode of sudden death turned out to be a familial one, and if perhaps there was something we could do for his young children and other family members to avert similar future disasters, then it would have been worth it.
The next day, immediate family members came. And then prominent opinion leaders came. And then some chiefs and local political authorities etc. came, all saying one thing, “We thank you for what you did for our brother. But if you say you are taking him to Accra to do a post-mortem, it is as if you suspect foul play. But we do not suspect foul play. We have accepted his death. It is the doing of the Lord and we have accepted the will of God. So please, give us our brother’s body so that we can bury him peacefully.”
The appeals and the pressure were strong enough to scuttle any autopsy plans. Social forces were at play again!
I believe Brother Kenu will probably approach matters differently in future. In the meantime, the mere withdrawal of the case may not immediately resolve all the blood pressure-related problems.
I hope he continues with the medical treatment until his condition stabilises. Forgiveness and understanding will be in order!
Sodzi Sodzi-Tettey
www.sodzisodzi.com
