The late divulging of partial details of the record meth haul originating from Ghana leaves much to be desired in terms of state propriety.
A $208 million haul of the illicit drug in Australia in April was kept away from public notice even though the information was available to officialdom.
But for the information hitting the public domain courtesy of the international media, the darkness surrounding the subject would have persisted perhaps not to be divulged at all.
When information of this magnitude is kept under the carpet for too long, questions are rightly posed about the intention behind that.
As we compose this piece, many such questions are being posed, some with recall of previous so-called arrests which only escaped through the window as planned. Details of those arrested made it to the public domain.
Whatever happened to the so-called ‘a certain Alhaji’ in relation to a container impounded in the neighbourhood of Amasaman in the early days of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government?
We recall the aircraft which made an emergency landing amid a blackout at the Accra International Airport following an airborne burst tyre. The case has evaporated too because the authorities wanted it to follow that pattern.
Sincerity should anchor management of information lest government loses public confidence. In a social media driven environment, no information can be kept away from the public indefinitely.
If the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) without doubt had this information, the release to the public should have been swift.
Given that sometimes in other not to scuttle investigation some information are better kept away from the public, it should not be this long.
Precedents have informed public curiosity in this matter, especially the fear that some untouchables are involved in the matter, their details set to be concealed by all means. While we do not want to give oxygen to this speculation, we would be quick to add that the management of this piece yet significant news has fallen below acceptable standards. Indeed, it shows something is being concealed from Ghanaians.
As stakeholders in everything about this country, we are disturbed about the repercussion of the meth haul on the image of the country. An illicit drug coast label is not something Ghanaians would relish.
Whoever is behind the foregone has not done a good job of it. He has rather opened up the flanks of the case for public scrutiny, which is ongoing and scathingly.
Given the fact that the haul was made in April and Australia having a diplomatic representation in Ghana, they would be surprised that it took so long before the story broke out and with little details.
Sketchy details beget suspicions.