The governing New Patriotic Party has been cited as the most abusive party on radio in October.
The October edition of the Media Foundation for West Africa’s (MFWA) language monitoring report also cited some specific individuals of the party who have been abusive on air
These personalities include; Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, MP for Assin Central; Bernard Antwi Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman; and Kwame Baffoe, also known as Abronye DC, NPP Bono Regional Chairman.
Other individuals cited in the report were the General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, a sympathiser of the NDC and host of Power FM’s ‘Inside Politics’, Mugabe Maase.
Over the monitoring period (October 1-31), a total of 2,236 radio programmes were monitored on 40 selected radio stations across the country. The programmes monitored included news bulletins, and political/current affairs discussions aired on the 40 radio stations.
A total of 81 indecent expressions were recorded by 45 individuals.
The 81 indecent expressions were made up of insulting and offensive comments; unsubstantiated allegations; provocative remarks; expressions containing prejudice and bigotry.
The 45 individuals who made the indecent expressions featured on the radio programmes as hosts, discussants/panellists, interviewees and callers.
The NPP recorded the highest number of indecent expressions (30) followed by the NDC with (19); the United Front Party (UFP) with six (6) and the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) with one (1) indecent expression.
Out of the 40 radio stations monitored, 16 recorded indecent expressions.
Accra-based Power FM topped the list with 15 indecent expressions on its afternoon political show ‘Inside Politics’.
Oman FM came second with 14 indecent expressions recorded on its evening political show ‘Boiling Point’.
Kumasi-based Ash FM tied with Oman FM as a result of feeds it picked from it.
Wontumi Radio recorded 13 indecent expressions on its morning show, followed by Accra FM with six then Nkawkaw-based Obuoba FM and Fox FM in Kumasi recorded five indecent expressions each.
The language monitoring on radio project seeks to promote issues-based campaigning and use of decent language/expression before, during and after Ghana’s 2020 elections.
In Ghana, the project is being implemented with funding support from the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA); and STAR-Ghana Foundation with funding from UKAID and EU. The project is also being implemented in Cote d’Ivoire and Niger.
