Oman FM, NDC led the pack in use of indecent language - MFWA report

Oman FM, an Accra-based private radio station, led the pack of 31 selected radio stations monitored by Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), a civil society group, on the Indecent Language project on radio.

Out of a total of 181 indecent expressions recorded for the period spanning April 1st to June 30th 2012, Oman FM gained 49, the first quarter monitoring report for 2012 disclosed.

The report was made known on Tuesday by Mr Sulemana Braimah, Deputy Executive Director for MFWA, at a forum organized by the Foundation in Accra as part of its project to contribute towards ensuring an issue-based and decent language campaign in the run up to the General Election in December.

Radio Gold, a private radio station based in Accra, ran Oman FM a close second with 14 recorded cases of use of indecent expressions.

Citi FM, another private radio station based in Accra, followed Radio Gold with 13 cases and was in turn followed by Kesben FM, a radio station with 12.

Peace FM (with 12 cases), Classic FM (9 cases), Space FM (8), Angel FM (7), Royals FM (7), Adom FM (7), North Star(6), Ankobra FM (5), Radio Progress (5)and Fox FM (4)followed in that order.

Eight FM stations were however commended for recording zero cases of use of indecent expressions on their media platform.

They were Ahomka FM, Word Radio, Radio Justice, Yes FM, Rites FM, Lolornyo FM, Meridian FM and Obuoba FM.

Speaking on the findings, Mr Braimah, announced that the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) led the league of political parties and their representatives in the use of indecent language in political discourse during the period.

The NDC’s 89 recorded cases of use of indecent language was followed by main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP)’s 70.

The Convention People’s Party was positioned third with three recorded cases of use of indecent language.

People’s National Convention recorded one incident with the others recording a total of 17 number of cases.

Mr Braimah said more than 70 per cent of all the indecent expressions were made during political discussion programmes that were aired in the morning and evening or night periods.

“It was found that out of the 181 indecent expressions recorded over the three-month period, seven of them, representing 3.9 per cent, were made by females with the remaining 174 being made by males, “he said.

He added that two of the expressions, being 1.1 per cent of the 181 recorded incidents, were gender specific indecent remarks.

Mr Braimah disclosed that supporters and affiliates of the NDC and NPP were the main culprits in the use of indecent expressions.

He said individuals who had made five or more indecent expressions over the period included Mr Ernest Owusu-Bempah (16 indecent expressions), Nii Chris Dugan (11 indecent expressions) both from NDC; Nii Kwartei Titus Glover (9 indecent expressions), Mr David Osei (5 indecent expressions) and Mr Yaw Adomako Baafi (5 indecent expressions) all from the NPP.

On the credibility of the findings, Mr Braimah said “the MFWA recognizes that our image as a civil society organization impacts our work within the West African sub region and thus strives to be professional with our work.”

He called on the media not to renege on their critical role of contributing towards a peaceful, free and fair election, adding that they (media) should insist on use of decent expressions by the people who featured on their airwaves.

Mr Braimah said “while the media continue to perform their legitimate role of holding people accountable, it is important for them to appreciate that they are and must also be accountable to the masses through their conduct.”**