Burying the Ghanaian in Peace!

Komla Dumor aka the Boss Player

It has been five days since Ghana; my beloved Country was thrown into a state of mourning.  Komla Afeke Dumor - touted as one of the Ace-Journalists to ever walk this part of the earth has passed on, into the yonder and the gripping shock is yet to free some of us from our inactive state, to probably continue from where we left off.

Tributes from sitting and past Presidents, notable and unknown persons from every nook and cranny have trickled in, amidst suggestions of all kinds for the man who could neither consent to nor disagree with them. But, from all indications available on social media, there is no disputing that, the man lived par excellence; a beacon for Africa and the world as a whole.

Even though I cannot say for a fact, if these suggestions are from authoritative sources such as a family spokesperson or from the Presidency, but, they have given me much to reflect on. Firstly, how every group or persons are trying to associate with the once British Broadcasting Corporation Broadcaster, despite, he was a peoples’ person. Secondly, the good-hearted people who are proposing that a fund is set for the upkeep of his Children or nuclear family and thirdly, those proposing that he is given a befitting state burial.

Apart from the clamouring from the general public, the Ghana Journalist Association has officially come out to propose a befitting state burial for the Boss Player and an established fund to cater for his survivors and the first question I found myself asking absentmindedly was “why?”

As a nation, I think this is another opportune time to reflect on our values and what should be held in high esteem. Do we have a policy which is known to all sundry as to who qualifies for a state burial and whose surviving family should benefit from such funds if any exists at all?

Does working for a leading international broadcasting Corporation or other multinational companies of that comparative stature qualifies one for such benefits? Is the benefit only limited to only the top echelon of the political circle? How long should one work in such capacities to be honored with such benefits or just getting there is enough? Exactly, where do we cut the fine line to avoid this habit of talking and denigrating the efforts of people when they are dead and gone?

This is where we are: deliberating on what to do with the mortal remains of Komla Dumor and how to manage his lots when we should be pre-occupied with what actually made him a bright shining star in a dark world and the journey thus far.

Mr. Komla Dumor interacting with Ex-US President, Bill Clinton

Ghana, like any other Country is made of different ethnic groups and by extension, different cultural practices which is usually binding on the individual, but I still believe we as a people can come to a consensus to have common grounds and say, when matters of this nature arises. The policy makers have to be circumspect and proactive in projecting their foresight even before we are confronted with the imminent situations.

Can we propose for the Government to take over funerals in this Country just as it wades in to seemingly alleviate aspects of our lives such as the National health Insurance scheme and other instituted social programs to take care of its citizenry or leave it as it were, where some people conveniently erect billboards for their departed?

How about the Government subsidizing funeral costs of Citizens or scheming funeral plans in tiers, so you and I will know our fate even before we decide to die? 

I know that, the aforementioned questions have cost implications and may further dig a hole in the state coffers, not to talk about how governance will be worsened with the incidence of skyrocketing tax falling on the individual, but all I am trying to say is we need a plan. 

There must be a plan!

And in the wake of Government taking over by subsidizing or organizing free burial for its citizens, how do we handle the agitations from family and friends who would be denied the opportunity to organize upscale funerals for their loved and departed ones, especially if they made more money in their lifetime?

There would also be cultural insurgents and gatekeepers who would be denied the chance to bury their royalties according to accepted norms, not to talk about the businessmen who would be denied revenue from privately organizing funeral for families but somehow, there must be some kind of uniformity.

We cannot continue to characterize the death of notable people who have contributed immensely on individual and national scales with such uproar and non-uniformity, because the least we could do is to allow them to rest peacefully.

To this end, I can only express my condolences to the bereaved family and close friends of Komla Dumor, who would definitely feel the loss on a very personal level.

R.I.P. Komla Afeke Dumor!

Fare thee well 

Xede nyuie!