 |
| 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!
