NMC, Parliamentary Press Corps, NPP commiserate with Nuamah’s family and injured victims

The National Media Commission (NMC), the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the Parliamentary Press Corps have expressed condolences to the bereaved family of Mr Samuel Nuamah, the Ghanaian Times presidential correspondent who died in an accident involving the presidential press corps last Thursday.

In separate statements, they expressed shock at the death of Mr Nuamah and wished the other journalists who were receiving medical attention at the 37 Military Hospital a speedy recovery.

The late Nuamah was among members of the presidential press corps who were returning from an assignment in Ho in the Volta Region when the vehicle on which they were travelling was involved in an accident at the Shai Hills near Tema.

NMC

A statement issued by the Executive Secretary of the NMC, Mr George Sarpong, said the NMC had learnt with shock the untimely death of Nuamah in a car accident.

“The NMC joins members of the media and the entire nation in expressing our deepest condolences to the bereaved family and wishes other journalists speedy recovery,” it said.

The statement said while the nation was mourning over Nuamah’s death, the NMC deemed it necessary to remind the media and users of social media to respect the dignity of the late journalist as well as the privacy and agony of his wife and his entire family.

The NMC said it found it disturbing that minutes after the accident pictures of Nuamah’s body were promptly circulated on social media “at a time when his immediate family had not even been notified”.

The statement said the NMC had had occasion to advise the media and users of social media to respect the sensitivity of reporting on matters that related to personal tragedies, particularly the unsavoury publication of photographs of dead bodies.
“The commission hopes the trend will cease henceforth,” it said.

NPP

The Presidential candidate of the NPP, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and the party have also extended their deepest condolences to the late Nuamah’s family.

A statement signed by the Communications Director of the NPP, Nana Akomea, said their hearts and thoughts also went out to the injured, some of whom were still on admission at the 37 Military Hospital, and wished them a speedy recovery.

‘’The NPP urges members of the media fraternity who have been shaken by this tragedy to remain firm and continue to discharge their duties in the service of God and Mother Ghana.

“The bonds that exist between them must be strengthened in these trying times in honour of their fallen compatriot,’’ the statement said.

Parliamentary Press Corps

The Parliamentary Press Corps said it received with shock the news of the motor accident involving members of the Presidential Press Corps, which led to Mr Nuamah’s untimely demise.

In a statement signed by the Dean of the Parliamentary Press Corps, Mr Andrew Edwin Arthur, the corps expressed its condolences to the late Numah’s bereaved family.

“Our condolences also go to the staff of the Ghanaian Times, members of the Presidential Press Corps and the Ghana Journalists Association of which he was a staunch member,” it said.

The statement said prior to his engagement at the Presidency, Mr Nuamah was a distinguished member of the Parliamentary Press Corps as a senior member, who represented the same newspaper as its correspondent in the august House of Parliament.

The statement said during his tenure in Parliament, the calm-looking Nuamah, despite serving his employer, also dedicated all his time to the activities of the Parliamentary Press Corps.

Big blow

The statement said Mr Nuamah's demise was indeed a big blow to the inky fraternity of Ghana, especially to the members of the Parliamentary Press Corps.

‘’In these trying times, we members of the Parliamentary Press Corps would like to urge the bereaved family to take solace in God and seek His comfort,’’ it said

The statement wished colleague journalists who were involved in the tragic accident and were receiving treatment at the hospital a very speedy recovery.