The governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have been found to be political parties using the most abusive languages in Ghana’s media.
According to a report released by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) on indecent campaign language, a total of 14 incidents of indecent expressions were recorded from over 1,900 radio programs monitored on 60 radio stations across the country within the month of September.
Other parties found to have used abusive language on air during the period include the National Democratic Party (NDP) and the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP).
The respective expressions were classified as provocative comments, insulting and offensive comments, unsubstantiated allegations and remarks inciting violence.
The MFWA report noted that, of the 14 incidents recorded, the NDC and NPP were responsible for 5 each of those comments.
The NDP was responsible for two of such comments while the GFP, one.
MFWA said it could not identify the political party responsible for one of the comments.
‘Media platforms with most abusive language’
The media platform on which most of the abusive comments were made was Accra-based Happy FM, according to the report.
The station hosted six (6) of the abusive languages followed by Okay FM with four (4). The others are Oman FM, one (1), Asempa FM one (1), Neat FM one (1), and Kumasi-based Nhyira FM one (1).
The NDC’s Deputy General Secretary, George Lawson was found to be the most abusive political character for the period under review. He was cited for making one provocative comment and three insulting and offensive comment.
The September report shows a decline in the number of offensive comments in the country’s media space from the incidents recorded in the August 2016 report.
A total of 39 incidents of indecent expressions were recorded in August.
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) in its recommendations called on the media especially “radio hosts and presenters in the country to play their gatekeeping role professionally and moderate their programmes to ensure that such expressions are not tolerated on their shows.”
It also urged “all political parties to continuously engage their communicators to focus on issue-based discussions and desist from the use of abusive expressions.”
Read the full report here
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