The Caleb-National Security story dominated the airwaves last week. It somewhat doused the “#fixthecountry” flame. After listening to both those in support of Caleb and those who thought he had embarked on a foolhardy venture, it reinforced my belief that we are a nation of people who mostly argue based on sentiments. But one thing is clear, Caleb Kudah wouldn’t have dared to step foot on that security zone if he had known the story I’m about to narrate.
I do not remember the exact year but I know it was in the early 1990s, so it could be 1991, 1992 or 1993. Aminu, a distant cousin, visited the “Blue Gate” office of the National Security to seek audience with Captain (RTD) Kojo Tsikata. Unfortunately for him, he had a Togolese passport on him. Thinking he was a dissident, he was hurriedly arrested and caged.
No one heard of Aminu for close to a year until one day yours truly and a friend chanced upon his frog-like VW Beetle car parked in the National Security yard. On reaching home, we quickly informed our elders who subsequently went to confirm his presence at the National Security outfit. It took another three months before he was eventually released. Anyone who lived in Kusuntu Line in Nima, Accra during the period will corroborate my story.
So, you see, Caleb would have treaded cautiously if he had had this story to guide him. Be that as it may, one cannot change the fact that he had decided to play ‘King Kong’, thereby putting himself in that pitiable state.
Truth be told, he erred in secretly filming at the National Security premises. Mr. Roland Affail Monney, the President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), earlier did confirm the fact that Caleb had breached article 13 of the association’s constitution. But he had to backtrack after a heated pressure on him for not supporting his own.
His backtracking notwithstanding, it is a known fact that taking photographs and filming of security installations is never allowed anywhere, not even in Uncle Obama’s homeland. One always needs authorisation and clearance to engage in that enterprise. It is the standard practice the world over. Journalists can do their jobs fearlessly but they should know their boundaries. No freedom is carte blanche so journalists cannot be acting like the proverbial King Kong.
About the alleged beatings he suffered at the hands of the National Security officials, no true lover of free press would justify the manhandling of any journalist performing his lawful duties. The barbaric behaviour must be condemned, if true.
Maybe Caleb did receive some slaps, but I find too much embellishments in his narration. Looking at his frail structure, I doubt he would be strong enough to be at the studio the next day if he had received that level of beating. Again, I wonder why he never told his bosses about the beatings when they visited him at the National Security outfit or when he was released, but only mentioned it the next day. Could it be an after thought?
Before you accuse me of insensitivity, please be reminded that I’m being guided by experience. A journalist from Multimedia once said that she had been captured by people believed to be from National Security. After a thorough investigation, it was revealed that the story was a figment of her own imagination.
Again, a journalist and a Zu-za member once killed a fowl and smeared the blood on his compound claiming he had been attacked, during President Kufuor’s era. Forensic investigation proved that it was a cock and bull story.
A big man from the Zu-za stock once claimed he had been shot at. Thorough forensic investigations, however, proved that he had told a Kwaku Ananse story because he actually shot his car’s windscreen with his own pistol.
So common sense tells me to question such claims, be they from journalists, politicians, prostitutes, lawyers or any one for that matter. Of course, I know the gullible ones would swallow such one-sided stories hook, line and sinker.
Caleb also raise a tribal issue in his narration. He claimed he had to deny his Ewe lineage to save himself from further beatings. Perhaps, he is saying the truth. But is it the case that there was no Ewe man or woman among the security personnel?
I do sympathise with Caleb. But those of us who know him cannot believe his so-called neutrality. The original post by Caleb on the MASLOC cars was not only unprofessional, but also devious. And the subsequent attempt to get evidence to support his devious publication was what landed him into trouble. For sure, beating him, if it did happen, was wrong, but his intentions are certainly not pure.See you next week for another interesting konkonsa, Deo volente!