Forever Young: Chris Tamakloe and the Tragedy of Our Road Safety Failures

Picture credit: citinewsroom.com

I struggle to find words that can appropriately capture the emotional roller coaster that I've experienced since hearing about the death of Chris Afelete Tamakloe, a 13-year-old rising music star and hugely popular contestant in Citi TV’s Keyboard Idol competition. 

Sadness is an understatement.

Rage...a bit melodramatic, perhaps.

Downheartedness. This might be in the ballpark. It somehow reflects the feeling that oscillates between palpable despondency and simmering fury. 

As I ponder the events that led to the devastating demise of this brilliant boy, I can't help but think about his parents and the pain that they must be feeling.

Imagine raising an intelligent, talented, healthy child, brimming with confidence, his whole life ahead of him; only for his shining light to be dimmed in a road accident that was preventable.

On the day that Chris died, 9 other children (and, I must add, several adults) reportedly lost their lives in separate accidents along various road stretches in Ghana. We know that 6 of them were part of a group of young athletes on their way to pursue their dreams of becoming professional footballers. 

In recent data compiled and published by the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service, we learned that, compared to the same period in 2019, road traffic accidents, injuries and fatalities generally decreased between January and June, 2020. While some of this information is slightly encouraging, one might ask: what are some of the factors that could have contributed to these reduced numbers? Could it be due to travel restrictions that were enforced to curb the spread of the coronavirus during that period? Is this the result of better public education on road safety? As we weigh the attributable possibilities, we still can't ignore the fact that poorly lit streets, broken down and abandoned vehicles, shoddy road work and driver error remain major causes for concern and should be prioritised in our quest to drastically reduce carnage on our roads. 

Articles have been written. Opinions have been shared. Statements have been issued. None of this will bring Chris back, nor will it resurrect the other young lives and God-given talents that we continue to lose because we haven't properly addressed the glaringly obvious national emergency of road accidents in Ghana.  

At Citi TV, we paid tribute to Chris with a special episode of Keyboard Idol, featuring performances by his co-competitors, highlights of his journey through the competition and a glimpse into his short yet impactful life. As I observed the visibly traumatised parents, contestants, friends and Citi team members who attended the tribute in his honour, it dawned on me that we had all been touched by the infectious smile and memorable, musical gift of a maestro in the making.

As his family and loved ones mourn their son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin and friend, I can't help but wonder about all of the potential that has been buried with him -- the untapped resource that we have lost. 

According to Chris’ father, Abednego, his son loved to play pieces from Georg Frideric Handel’s oratorio, Judas Maccabeus. In this opus, we hear several refrains sung by the Israelite Chorus, including: 

“For Sion lamentation make,

With words that weep, and tears that speak.”

Our words weep… Our tears speak...Will anything change?

Rest in peace, Chris.