From Tiger Eye To Africa Eye: ‘Oh God, We Have Created Death’!

The above statement (or lamentation) was attributed to a popular, award-winning scientist, who, according to some historians, played an instrumental role in the manufacture of the Atomic Bomb that was used in wiping out the two Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.

The scientist, who was initially celebrated for his exploits, reportedly made the statement, after he was shown pictures of the destruction his handiwork had done, and could continue to do, to humanity.

Several decades after that, and having realized the danger the A-bomb posed to mankind, the world is currently at its wits end, trying desperately to stop the destructive snowball effect that the single invention had set in motion. In fact, the UN is doing all it can, including doling out Economic Aid to countries so they don’t manufacture the bomb anymore.

In the Ghanaian context, it appears we have also fallen into a similar ‘trap’. In our quest to expose corruption in high places, we have come to accept certain unethical journalistic practices that are now turning round to hunt us all.

Not too long ago, we hailed some works that glaringly involved entrapping people with gifts. We did it to some of our Senior Judges, and went ahead to do the same to some football administrators and referees in our jurisdiction. At the time it appeared we were carried away largely because those works came with the backing and blessing of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

Today, in the wake of the sex for grades brouhaha that many Ghanaians seem to be frowning at, the vital question is: how different is the Africa Eye of today from the Tiger Eye of yesterday, in terms of modus operandi?

In the Professor Gyampo case, for instance, which has become so topical in the last few days, we at THE NEW PUBLISHER think there is more to it than meets the eye. Like many Ghanaians, we think that what was shown in the videos do not pass for ‘Sex-for-Grades’. Even if the perpetrators wanted to hang the professor at all cost, couldn’t they have crafted a ‘more appropriate headline’ than ‘sex for grades’?

We also observed that the BBC-sponsored journalists, somehow, overdramatized their claims by shedding tears, ostensibly to play on the emotions of viewers. Again, in the case of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) lecturers, we cannot understand why they should organize a demonstration against RAPE on the campus, when clearly there was no attempt to rape anybody.

While we do not claim to be experts on journalism, we are tempted to believe that something is not right, and we must all sit up. The clear and present danger associated with this kind of works, in our view, is that nobody in our society is safe anymore.

To the paper, gone are the days when we accepted anything, simply because they had the blessing of the BBC. If it is a matter of immorality, let it be so said, but to entrap people and add colour to a story is unacceptable. That is not journalism. That is something else, and it must be an eye-opener to us all.

Like the A-bomb, we think we have a dragon on our hands.