The August edition of the Media Foundation for West Africa’s monitoring of indecent campaign language on radio in Ghana reports that hosts of political analysis and current affairs show on stations aligned to two main political parties in Ghana—the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the main opposition, National Democratic Party (NDC)—are worst perpetrators of abusive language. With less than 100 days to the 2024 general elections, the report highlights a disturbing rise in inflammatory rhetoric on radio, the most accessible source of information in the country.
Topping the list of worst offenders is Mugabe Maase, host of Inside Politics on Power FM, who recorded 19 (29%) instances of indecent expressions out of a total of 65 documented in the report. Following Maase were Yaw Amofa Boakye, host of National Agenda on Oman FM, with nine infractions, and Nana Bobie Ansah, host of The Citizen Show on Accra FM, who was responsible for seven indecent expressions. Power FM, Oman FM, and Accra FM were flagged as the most problematic stations, with much of the inappropriate language linked to discussions surrounding elections, corruption, and development projects.
The report emphasizes that hosts, who are entrusted with guiding public discussions, are the main culprits of indecent speech. Instead of setting a professional tone, some are contributing to the spread of harmful rhetoric. This raises critical concerns about the role of moderators and show hosts in shaping responsible and respectful discourse during such a crucial time leading up to the December 2024 general elections. The situation also calls into question the effectiveness of media oversight and the need for stricter regulation of on-air behaviour.
In the previous month, Nana Bobie Ansah of Accra FM, topped the chat with Oheneba Boamah Benie and Mugabe Maase, both hosts on Power FM following. Also, in June, Mugabe Maase and Nana Bobie Ansah recorded the highest number of violations. This underscores the consistency of these show hosts in flagrantly abusing media professional ethical standards at the crucial time of elections.
The MFWA recommends that regulatory bodies enhance their mechanisms to foster media professionalism. Managers and owners of radio stations are encouraged to establish clear guidelines for show hosts and ensure decorum during discussions. Radio stations should uphold standards of professionalism and maintain respectful discourse. Political leaders are urged to focus on advocating for discussions centred around issues.
The full report is available here.
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Daniel Kwame Ampofo Adjei
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