The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has cited General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Aseidu Nketia and General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), John Boadu for use of indecent language on Radio.
The findings are contained in the July edition of the Foundation’s Elections Campaign Language Monitoring Project which also cited some members of the two parties, Members of Parlaiment (MPs), Party Activists and Programme Hosts for their use of indecent expressions on Radio.
During the 31-day period, 66 indecent expressions by 36 individualswere recorded.
Aside from Johnson Aseidu Nketia and John Boadu, former NPP MP for Upper Denkyira West Benjamin Kofi Ayeh, was also cited as a perpetrator of indecent language on radio.
Others were Oheneba Boamah Bennie, host of Accra-based Power FM’s The Battle Ground and Mugabe Maase, host of Power FM’s Inside Politics among others.
2,749 radio programmes were monitored on 35 selected radio stations across the country.
The programmes included news bulletins, as well as political/current affairs discussions aired on the 35 radio stations.
The 66 indecent expressions detected are made up of Insulting and Offensive comments; Unsubstantiated allegations; Inciting violence; Gender-specific insults; Expressions or Comments promoting Divisiveness; and expressions promoting Prejudice and Bigotry.
The 36 individuals who made the indecent expressions featured on the radio programmes as hosts, discussants/panelists, interviewees and as texters.
According to the report, the NDC within the period recorded 27 indecent expressions which is the highest number of expressions, with the NPP following with 13 and 3 for the United Front Party (UFP).
It said 16 out of the 35 radio stations monitored recorded indecent expressions.
Accra-based Power FM recorded the highest with 22 indecent expressions on three of its major programmes which are Inside Politics,The Battle Grounds and Dwaboase.
Ahotor FM also based in Accra, recorded seven indecent expressions on its morning show.
Accra-based Oman FM followed with six indecent expressions while Kumasi-based Fox FM and Accra-based Okay FM recorded five abusive expressions.
The Elections Campaign language monitoring project seeks to promote issue-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 STAR Ghana Foundation and OSIWA.
