NPP remains the most abusive on radio – MFWA report

Affiliates/ supporters of the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) have once again been found to be the most abusive on radio during the monitoring of electoral campaign language by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) over the period, October 7 – 13, 2012.

For eight (8) consecutive weeks (August 19 – October 13), individuals belonging to the NPP have been at the forefront in the use of indecent remarks on radio.

This is unacceptable and it is unfortunate that the leadership of the NPP does not seem to be making efforts to reverse this unhealthy phenomenon in our political discourse.

During the monitoring period (October 7 – 13, 2012), a total of 17 indecent expressions were recorded. Affiliates of the NPP made 13 (76.5%) of them. Four individuals made more than one indecent remark and they are all affiliates of the NPP.

The only newspaper editor who has been cited severally for using indecent expressions on radio, Mr. Ken Kuranchie, the Managing Editor of the Daily Searchlight newspaper who is also an NPP sympathiser, was once again found to have used an indecorous expression.

Kumasi-based Angel FM was the radio station on which a lot of the indecent remarks were made. Ten (10) out of the 17 indecent expressions were made on Angel FM.

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 contributing to ensuring issues-based and decent language campaigning in theDecember 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 132 reports were received on programmes monitored on 30 out of the 31 radio stations being monitored under the project. Altogether, 17 indecent remarks were recorded on seven (7) political discussion programmes aired on six (6) radio stations.The 17 indecent expressions were made up of the following categories of expressions:

• Insulting/Offensive Comments: 10
• Unsubstantiated Allegations: 5
• Innuendoes: 2

Expressions Used and Political Party Affiliation

The 17 indecent expressions were made by affiliates of the two main political parties in the country; the NPP and the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Thirteen (13) of the 17 inappropriate remarks were made by affiliates of the NPP. The remaining four (4) indecorous expressions were made by affiliates of the NDC. Table 1 below details the indecent expressions made by affiliates of the two political parties.

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