The Media Foundation for West Africa’s (MFWA) monitoring report for the past two weeks (August 19 to September 1, 2012) has been released.

     It revealed that Mr Kennedy Agyapong, the NPP Member of Parliament for Assin North constituency; Madam Ursla Owusu, the NPP parliamentary candidate for Ablekuma South; Kwabena Sarpong, a member of the NPP Communications Team and Eric Bawah, a member of the NPP, were the main culprits in the use of intemperate language on radio.

     In a statement to the Ghana News Agency in Accra at the weekend said other prominent persons who were found to have made indecent expressions include, Mr David Annan, a member of the NDC Legal Team; Mr Ken Kuranchie, the Managing Editor of the Daily Searchlightnewspaper, who is also an NPP supporter; Mr John Donyina, the Communications Director of the NPP for Techiman; and Samuel Nartey George, a member of the Government’s Communication Team.

     Adom FM, Classic FM and Hot FM were the radio stations that recorded the highest number of indecorous expressions.

     The statement was signed by Prof. Kwame Karikari, Executive Director MFWA.

     Below is the full report:

MFWA: REPORT ON CAMPAIGN LANGUAGE MONITORING ON RADIO

Introduction

     This report covers the findings of campaign language monitoring on radio by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) over the period, August 19 – September 1, 2012 (weeks 21 and 22 of monitoring). During the two-week period, two major political activities took place – campaign launch of both the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC). These activities were the main subject matter of discussions around which most of the indecent expressions were made.

     The findings show that affiliates of the NPP were the main culprits in the use of indecent expressions. Also, all the individuals who were found to have made more than one indecent expression were NPP members. The report provides the names of individuals and the radio stations on which indecent expressions were made.

     Monitoring campaign language-use on radio is a project by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), with funding from STAR-Ghana. The project is aimed at ensuring issues-based and decent language campaigning in this year’s polls. 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

     A total of 183 reports were received on programmes monitored on the 31 radio stations selected for the project. In all, 30 indecent expressions were recorded; 28 of them were captured on 19 programmes monitored on 13 stations. The other two were indecent expressions captured during the launch of the NPP’s campaign. Eleven of the 30 indecent expressions were recorded in the week of August 19 – 25, 2012 while the week of August 26 to September 1, 2012 recorded 20 of such expressions. The breakdown of the 30 indecent expressions that were captured is as follows:

• Unsubstantiated Allegations: 12

• Insulting/Offensive comments: 10

•  Provocative remarks: 3

•  Innuendoes: 3

•  Gender-specific indecent remark: 1

•  Prejudice/Tribal slur: 1

     The 28 indecent expressions captured on radio were made during political discussion programmes aired in the morning and evening/night.

      Expressions Used and Political Party Affiliation

     For the past one month, affiliates of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) were found to be leading in the use of indecent expressions. Within the two weeks under review, however, some leading members and supporters of the main opposition NPP were found to have made close to half (14) of the 30 indecent expressions recorded. In fact, for each of the six (6) categories of indecent expressions registered, affiliates of the NPP were found to be culprits.

      On the other hand, eight (8) of the indecent expressions captured were made by members/supporters of the NDC; two (2) by supporters of the Convention People’s Party (CPP); and one (1) by the Founder of the United Renaissance Party (URP), Mr Kofi Wayo. The remaining five (5) indecent expressions recorded were replays of indecent expressions captured on some radio stations.

      Table 1 below indicates the categories of indecent expressions made by affiliates of the above-mentioned political parties.

     Table 1: Expressions Used by Political Party Affiliation

     Note: The remaining five indecent expressions not captured in Table 1 above were rebroadcasts of indecent expressions by four radio stations (four insulting/offensive comments replayed by Asempa FM (2), Adom FM (1) and Space FM (1) and an innuendo replayed by Asempa FM).

     Analysis of the findings showed that only members of the NPP were found to have made more than one indecent expression over the two-week period. Below are the names of such individuals:

• Mr. Kwabena Sarpong, a member of the NPP Communications Team (3)

• Hon. Kennedy Agyapong, NPP MP for Assin North (2)

• Madam Ursula Owusu, NPP parliamentary candidate for Ablekuma South (2)

• Mr. Eric Bawah, a supporter of the NPP (2)

     Expressions Used and Gender

     Out of the 30 indecent expressions captured, two (2) were made by a female, Madam Ursula Owusu, NPP parliamentary candidate for Ablekuma South. Also, one gender-specific indecent expression was captured in the course of the two weeks (as seen in Table 1 above).

    Below are the names of the individuals who used the indecent expressions (including those named above), the radio stations and the dates on which the expressions were made:

      Unsubstantiated allegations

1. Kofi Wayo, the Founder of the URP – in an interview on Radio Gold during the Newspaper Review Segment of the Gold Power Drive aired onAugust 22, 2012

2. A CPP supporter who called and identified himself as Ofori – during Ankobra FM’s Breakfast Tableprogramme of August 23, 2012

3. An NDC supporter who called and identified himself as Yakubu – during Ahomka FM’s Agendaprogramme of August 21, 2012

4. Hon. Kennedy Agyapong, the NPP MP for Assin North constituency – during the campaign launch of the NPP at Mantse Agbona on August 25, 2012

5. Mr. Kwabena Sarpong, a member of the NPP Communications Team – made 2 during Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem of August 27, 2012

6. Madam Ursla Owusu, NPP parliamentary candidate for Ablekuma South – during Oman FM’s National Agenda of August 29, 2012. Her remark was also considered offensive.

7. Mr. Ken Kuranchie, Managing Editor of the Daily Searchlight newspaper and an NPP supporter – during Hot FM’s Maakye programme of August 28, 2012. His comment was also considered offensive.

8. A caller by name Abu, an NDC supporter – during Skyy Power FM’s Jolly Breakfast Show of August 29, 2012

9. Mr John Donyina, the Communication Director of the NPP in Techiman – during Classic FM’s Big Breakfast Show of August 28, 2012

10. Mr. Kobby Onassis, an NDC member who is also the Ashanti regional Coordinator of the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) – during Kessben FM’s Maakye programme of August 27, 2012

11. A caller by name Zeba, an NDC supporter – during Skyy Power FM’s Jolley Breakfast Show of August 27, 2012

 Insulting/Offensive Comments

1. Nii Kwartei Titus-Glover, a member of the NPP Communications Team – during Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsemprogramme of August 24, 2012

2. Mr. Kwaku Boahen, the Ashanti Regional Youth Organiser of the NDC – during Angel FM’s Platform programme of August 22, 2012

3. Mr. Kwabena Sarpong, a member of the NPP Communications Team – during Hot FM’s Maakye programme of August 28, 2012

4. Mr. Agbesi Nutsu of the NDC – during Hot FM’s Maakye programme of August 28, 2012

5. Madam Ursla Owusu, NPP parliamentary candidate for Ablekuma South – during Oman FM’s National Agendaprogramme of August 29, 2012

6. Mr. David Annan, a member of the NDC Legal Team – during Radio Gold’s Alhaji and Alhaji programme of September 1, 2012  

7. Asempa FM also replayed an indecent expression earlier made by the NPP Member of Parliament for Upper Denkyira West Constituency, Hon. Benjamin Ayeh, duringthe station’s Ekosii Sen programme of August 20, 2012

8. Asempa FM replayed an indecent expression earlier made by the Central Regional Communications Director of the NDC, Mr Allotey Jacob, during the station’s Ekosii Sen programme of August 20, 2012.

9. Adom FM replayed an indecent expression made by Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie (Sir John) during NPP’s campaign launch at Mantse Agbona during its Dwaso Nsem of August 27, 2012

10. Space FM replayed an indecent expression made by the Ashanti Regional Secretary of the NPP, Mr Sam Pyne, on Peace FM during Space News at 6:00am aired on August 28, 2012  

       Provocative remarks

1. Mr. David Osei of the NPP – during Angel FM’s Platform programme aired on August 22, 2012

2. Mr. Eric Bawah of the NPP – during Classic FM’s Big Breakfast Show of August 28, 2012

3. Mr. Isaac Gyan of the CPP – during Classic FM’s Big Breakfast Show of August 31, 2012

      Innuendoes

1. Hon. Kennedy Agyapong, the NPP MP for Assin North constituency – during the campaign launch of the NPP at Mantse Agbona on August 25, 2012

2. Mr. Samuel Nartey George, a Member of the Government’s Communication Team – during Uniiq FM’s Breakfast Drive programme of August 26, 2012

3. During Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme of August 27, 2012, the station replayed a remark made by Kennedy Agyapong of the NPP during the campaign launch of the NPP at Mantse Agbona

       Gender-specific indecent expression

         1.      Mr. Ken Koranchie, Managing Editor of the Daily Searchlight newspaper and an NPP sympathizer – during Hot FM’s Maakye programme of August 21, 2012

        Prejudice/Tribal Slur

1. Mr. Eric Bawah of the NPP – during Classic FM’s Big Breakfast Show of August 28, 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 used by persons cited in our reports are, however, available at the MFWA.

     Expressions Used and Radio Stations

     Out of the 30 indecent expressions recorded, 28 were made during programmes aired on 13 radio stations. Adom FM, Hot FM and Classic FM were the stations on which the highest number (4 each) of indecent expressions were made;Asempa FM followed with 3 indecent expressions. Details of the other radio stations that registered indecent expressions have been presented below in Table 2 along with the categories of expressions recorded.

      Table 2: Expressions Used by Radio Stations

     Note: The remaining two indecent expressions (an innuendo and an unsubstantiated allegation, both made by Hon. Kennedy Agyapong, NPP MP for Assin North) not captured in Table 2 above were made during the launch of the NPP campaign at Mantse Agbona on August 25, 2012.

      Conclusion

     The findings of the monitoring show that a high number of radio discussions over the past two weeks did not focus on issues. Also, some radio stations have continued in the rebroadcast of indecent expressions, with Asempa FM being the main culprits in this practice for the past two weeks.

     The MFWA is, therefore, urging the moderators of the various radio stations and the people who feature on their respective programmes to engage in issues-based discussions, especially in this period when campaign activities are intensifying, to ensure peaceful polls in December. We also urge all radio stations to desist from the rebroadcast of indecent expressions since the act tends to amplify the intemperate expressions and their potentially negative consequences.