NPP/NDC bigwigs continue to make indecent expressions

... on radio

Three prominent politicians from the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) were found to have used indecent expressions during Weeks14 and 15 of monitoring indecent expressions on radio.

The three were two NPP Members of Parliament, Kennedy Agyapong and Maxwell Kofi Jumah, and Dr. Tony Aidoo, the Head of Monitoring and Evaluation at the Presidency.

The period, which spanned July 1 to 14, 2012, recorded 21 indecent expressions on nine radio stations. Oman FM registered six.

Maxwell Kofi Jumah, Ernest Owusu Bempah and Ken Kuranchie made two each of the indecent expressions during the two-week period.

Below is the full report

MFWA'S REPORT ON INDECENT LANGUAGE-USE ON RADIO

The findings of the on-going monitoring of language-use on radio by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) have shown that 21 indecent expressions were made during the 14th and 15th weeks of monitoring.

During the period (July 1 - 14, 2012), 172 reports were received on programmes monitored on the 31 radio stations selected for the project. The 21 indecent expressions were, however, captured on 15 programmes monitored on nine radio stations. Insulting and offensive expressions were dominant. Although people who identified with the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) made most of the indecent expressions, a few were rebroadcast of some indecent expressions.

The project, which is aimed at promoting issues-based and decent language campaigning in this year's polls, is an initiative by the MFWA and funded by STAR-Ghana. It involves daily monitoring of language/ expressions by politicians and activists on specific programmes on 31 selected radio stations across the country.

General findings on expressions used

Majority of the intemperate expressions centred on the controversy surrounding payment of judgement debts and general political party activities/matters.

Below is the breakdown of the categories of indecent expressions that were recorded:

. Insulting and offensive comments (9)

. Unsubstantiated allegations (6)

. Provocative remarks (5)

. Innuendo (1)

Expressions used by Discussants and their Political Party Affiliation

Ten out of the 21 indecent expressions were made by affiliates/supporters of the NPP; six by the NDC and five by others whose affiliation could not be established. Details of the specific kind of indecent expressions used and the political affiliation of those who made them is presented in Table 1 below:

Table 1: Types of Indecent Expressions by Political Party Affiliation of

those who made them

Expressions used

Political Party/Group Affiliation

NPP

NDC

Affiliation Not identified/ established

Total

Insulting & offensive comments

6

1

2

9

Unsubstantiated Allegations

3

2

1

6

Provocative remarks

0

3

2

5

Innuendo

1

0

0

1

Total

10

6

5

21

Three people were found to have made two indecent expressions each. Below are their names and the number of indecent expressions each made:

* Hon. Maxwell Kofi Djumah (2)

* Mr. Ernest Owusu Bempah (2)

* Mr. Ken Kuranchie, the Managing Editor of the Daily Searchlight newspaper (2)

Below are the names of the individuals who made the 21 indecent expressions (including those mentioned above) and the platforms on which they made them:

Insulting/offensive comments

. Solomon Nkansah, the Deputy Propaganda Secretary of the NDC - during Kessben FM's Maakye programme of July 4, 2012

. Appiah Stadium whose affiliation was not mentioned - during Asempa FM's Ekosii Sen programme of July 9, 2012

. Hon. Maxwell Kofi Jumah, NPP MP for Asokwa - made two during Oman FM's Boiling Point programme of July 10, 2012

. Mr. Ken Kuranchie, an NPP sympathizer - made two on Oman FM's Boiling Point programme of July 12, 2012

. Hon. Kennedy Agyapong of the NPP - in an interview on Oman FM's Boiling Point programme of July 12, 2012

. The host of Angel FM's Platform programme, Mr. Karikari Agyemang, read an offensive text message from one Shifman from Atonsu whose political party affiliation was not mentioned. The programme was aired on July 9, 2012.

. An offensive remark made by Hon. Sheikh I.C. Quaye during NPP's rally at Taifa was replayed on Peace FM during the station's Mid-day News of July 3, 2012

Unsubstantiated allegations

. A caller who identified himself as Agudey and as an NPP supporter - during Asempa FM's Ekosii Sen programme of July 3, 2012

. A caller known as Gadaffi who identified himself as an NDC sympathizer - during the Tea Cup segment of Radio Gold's Power Drive of July 4, 2012

. Mr. Ebenezer Essien of the NDC - during Ankobra FM's Newspaper Review programme of July 10, 2012

. Mr. Eric Bawa of the NPP - during Classic FM's Big Breakfast Show of July 11, 2012

. Mr. John Donyina of the NPP - during Classic FM's Big Breakfast Show of July 12, 2012

. During Adom FM's 6am News of July 1, 2012, the station replayed an unsubstantiated allegation which was originally made by Mr. David Annan on Radio Gold.

Provocative remarks

. Mr. Yakubu Adamu (Yakubu Tony Aidoo), the Asawaase NDC Propaganda Secretary - on Adom FM's Dwaso Nsem of July 6, 2012

. Mr. Kojo Twum Boafo, a member of the NDC Communication Team - during Radio Gold's Newspaper Review segment of Gold Power Drive on July 5, 2012

. Mr. Ernest Owusu Bempah, associated with the National Democratic Party (NDP) - during Asempa FM's Ekosii Sen programme of July 9, 2012

. Mr. Ernest Owusu-Bempah, associated with the NDP - on Oman FM's Boiling Point programme of July 12, 2012

. Dr. Tony Aidoo of the NDC, Head of Monitoring and Evaluation at the Presidency - during Radio Gold's Sixty Minute segment of the Gold Power Drive on July 10, 2012

Innuendo

. Mr. Sammy Awuku, a Deputy Communications Director of the NPP - in an interview on Adom FM's 6am News of July 1, 2012.

Note: As a policy, the MFWA has decided not to publish the indecent expressions people make since it will amount to rebroadcasting of those remarks. The MFWA has been urging radio stations to desist from the replay of indecent expressions on their networks since they tend to amplify such expressions and their potentially negative ramifications. Thus, the rebroadcasting of the specific indecent expressions recorded in this monitoring exercise will amount to the same inappropriate action. The specific expressions made by people cited in our reports are, however, available at the MFWA.

Expressions used on Radio Stations

All the 21 indecent expressions were made on nine radio stations, with Oman FM recording the highest number of indecent expressions. In Table 2 below, the breakdown of the specific indecent expressions recorded on the respective radio stations is presented:

Table 2: Radio Stations on which Indecent Expressions were recorded

Radio Station

Types of Expressions Used

Insulting/ Offensive Comments

Provocative Remark

Unsubstantiated Allegations

Innuendo

Total

Oman FM

5

1

0

0

6

Radio Gold

0

2

1

0

3

Asempa FM

1

1

1

0

3

Adom FM

0

1

1

1

3

Classic FM

0

0

2

0

2

Angel FM

1

0

0

0

1

Ankobra FM

0

0

1

0

1

Kessben FM

1

0

0

0

1

Peace FM

1

0

0

0

1

Total

8

5

5

1

21

Conclusion

The MFWA commends the hosts/presenters who were insistent on the use of decorous expressions during the two-week period, and is urging the others to do same. The MFWA is also entreating moderators and producers to ensure that people who feature on their respective programmes/stations are guided by the truth, focus on facts and issues, and decency. Moderators should also try to desist from asking leading questions that are intended or likely to result in provocative responses.

Issued by MFWA in Accra on June 21, 2012

The MFWA is a regional independent, non-profit, non-governmental organization based in Accra. It was founded in 1997 to defend and promote the rights and freedom of the media and all forms of expression.

For more information please contact: Kwame Karikari (Prof) Executive Director MFWA Accra Tel: 233-0302-24 24 70 Fax: 233-0302-22 10 84

Email: mfwa@africaonline.com.gh This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it / alerts@mediafound.org This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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