Former Head of Public Affairs at COCOBOD, Fiifi Boafo, has raised concerns about what he describes as growing public apathy during violent incidents, following the circulation of a viral assault video involving Nyinahin Catholic Senior High School.
Reacting to the footage on Joy News, Boafo said the most troubling aspect of the incident was not only the altercation itself, but the apparent reluctance of bystanders to intervene while the confrontation unfolded.
He questioned why individuals who witnessed the incident chose to record it rather than attempt to separate those involved.
According to him, the rise of social media has contributed to a behavioural shift in which people prioritise capturing events on camera over taking immediate action to prevent harm.
Boafo acknowledged that recordings can play an important role in exposing wrongdoing and supporting investigations. However, he stressed that this should not come at the expense of human intervention when lives or safety are at risk.
He argued that in many situations, timely intervention could prevent escalation, asking what outcomes might have been different if witnesses had stepped in to stop the altercation.
Boafo warned that if the trend continues, society risks normalising passive observation of violent or dangerous incidents, where individuals are more concerned with documentation than prevention.
He maintained that while technology has made it easier to share information instantly, it should not replace basic civic responsibility and concern for others.
According to him, preventing harm should always take priority over creating content for social media platforms.
Boafo’s comments add to ongoing public debate about the influence of social media on behaviour during emergencies and the growing tension between documenting events and intervening to save lives or prevent harm.
