The Media Foundation for West African (MFWA) on Thursday tagged 16 high profile politicians as most abusive on radio.
They are; Mr. David Osei of the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. Kennedy Agyapong, NPP Member of Parliament for Assin North, Mr. Gideon Boako, Ashanti Regional Youth Organizer of the NPP; and Gizo described as an NPP supporter.
MFWA statement to the Ghana News Agency signed by Professor Kwame Karikari, Executive Director, named other personalities as Mr.Kobby Onassis of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) during Kessben FM’s Maakye programme of October 8 and Mr Kwaku Balado Manu, NPP MP for Ahafo Ano South, during Royals FM’s Adekyea Mu Nsem programme of October 8.
Others are; Mr. Kennedy Agyapong, NPP MP for Assin North, during Oman FM’s Boiling Point programme of October 9; Mr. Francis Dodovi, an NDC activist and a spokesperson of the Ashanti Regional Minister during Angel FM’s Platform programme of October 10; and Gizo an NPP supporter, during Angel FM’s Platform programme of October 8.
Mr. Gideon Boako, Ashanti Regional Youth Organizer of the NPP during Angel FM’s Platform programme of October 8, Mr. David Osei of the NPP during Angel FM’s Platform programme of October 8, Mr.Kweku Boahen of the NDC during Angel FM’s Platform programme of October 8 and Mr. Mohammed Sahwil of the NPP during North Star FM’s Hot Issues programme of October 8.
Mr. Gideon Boako, Ashanti Regional Youth Organizer of the NPP during Angel FM’s Platform programme of October 8, Mr. David Osei of the NPP during Angel FM’s Platform programme of October 8, and Mr. Ken Kuranchie, the Managing Editor of the Daily Searchlight newspaper who is also an NPP sympathiser during Oman FM’s National Agenda programme of October 8.
The rest are Mr. Richard Nyamah, a member of the Young Patriots of the NPP during Hot FM’s Maakye programme of October 8; and Mr. Fuseini Donkor, a member of the NDC communication team in the Ashanti Region during Angel FM’s Platform programme of October 8.
The MFWA also cited six radio stations for using their platforms in airing the 17 indecent remarks, stressing that: “As many as 10 of the 17 indecent expressions were made on Angel FM”.
Radio Stations by Expressions Used
Radio Station | Expressions Used | |||
Insulting/Offensive Comments | Unsubstantiated Allegations | Innuendoes | Total | |
Angel FM | 7 | 2 | 1 | 10 |
Oman FM | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
Hot FM | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Kessben FM | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
North Star FM | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Royals FM | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Total | 10 | 5 | 2 | 17 |
Prof Karikari noted that the records of indecent expressions by affiliates of the NPP over the past eight weeks is alarming and highly undesirable in our political discourse, especially as the country goes to the polls in less than two months.
The MFWA is once again urging Ghanaian electorates to seriously consider making their voting decisions based on the substance of the issues raised by the various political parties and candidates, and reject parties and candidates who focus on insults, personality attacks and other comments that do not augur well for the peace of the country.
The MFWA is also calling on the management, editorial board and programme producers of Angel FM to address the increasing incidence of indecent expressions on the radio station.
The National Media Commission (NMC) and the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) are also being urged to complement efforts being made to have a more professional media that contribute positively to the peace and democratisation processes of the country.
Monitoring campaign language-use on radio is a project by the MFWA with funding from STAR-Ghana. The project is aimed at contributing to ensuring issues-based and decent language campaigning in the December polls.
It involves daily monitoring of language/ expressions by politicians and activists on specific programmes on 31 selected radio stations across the country.
