<<Print>>

The latest findings on the use of indecent expressions on radio for the period June 3 � 9, 2012, show that Ernest Owusu Bempah of the NDC and Director of Operations of FONKAR, continues to use indecent expressions on radio. Out of the total of 13 indecent expressions recorded over the period, Owusu Bempah alone made five of them, representing approximately 39 percent. Other highlights of the report are as follows: � Members of the NDC were in the lead in the use of indecent expressions; � Chris Dugan of the NDC, an official of FONKAR, once again made more than one indecent expression; � Majority of the indecent expressions were made on Oman FM�s Boiling Point programme and � Two of the indecent expressions were made by females belonging to both the NDC and the NPP. Please find below the full report: LATEST FINDINGS ON MONITORING LANGUAGE-USE ON RADIO This is a compilation of the findings from monitoring the use of indecent political expressions for the period, June 3 � 9, 2012. A total of 51 reports were received on the programmes monitored on all the 31 radio stations selected for the monitoring project. Indecent expressions were, however, recorded on eight of the programmes monitored. The monitoring of language-use on radio is a project by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) with funding from STAR-Ghana. The main aim of the project is to promote decent language campaigning for the 2012 elections. GENERAL FINDINGS ON EXPRESSIONS USED In all, 13 indecent expressions were recorded on the eight programmes that registered indecent expressions. Below is the breakdown of the categories of indecent expressions that were captured: � Insulting and offensive comments: 7 � Unsubstantiated Allegations: 4 � Gender-specific Insult: 1 � Provocative Remark: 1 EXPRESSIONS USED BY DISCUSSANTS AND THEIR POLITICAL PARTY AFFILIATION All the indecent expressions were made by eight people: four were officials/supporters of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), the other four were officials/supporters of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC). Of the 13 indecent expressions recorded, four were made by the four NPP members with the remaining nine being made by the four supporters/affiliates of the NDC. Specifically, however, two of the four NDC members who identified with FONKAR (a faction in the NDC that supports the former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings), made seven of the nine indecent expressions attributed to the NDC. Mr. Ernest Owusu Bempah of the NDC, who is also the Director of Operations of FONKAR, was once again found to have made majority of the indecent expressions. Approximately 39 percent of the indecent expressions were made by him. By this, Mr. Owusu Bempah has become the only person who has for four consecutive weeks made majority of the indecent expressions recorded since May 13, 2012. Mr. Chris Dugan of the NDC, who is also the Brong Ahafo Regional Coordinator of FONKAR, was also found to have made two of the indecent expressions recorded. It is commendable to note that for the past four weeks, no supporter/affiliate of the Convention People�s Party (CPP), People�s National Convention (PNC), Independent People�s Party (IPP), Progressive People�s Party (PPP), or any member of the other political parties has made an indecent expression on the 31 radio stations being monitored. EXPRESSIONS USED BY GENDER For the week under review, one gender-specific indecent remark was recorded. Two of the eight people who made the 13 indecent expressions were females. The remaining six were males. Below, the names of the individuals who made the 13 indecent expressions have been placed under the specific types of expressions they made. The radio stations and the dates on which the expressions were made have also been indicated. INSULTING/OFFENSIVE � Mad. Sarah Mensah of the NPP � during Royals FM�s Adekyea Mu Nsem programme of June 4, 2012 � Mr. Mike Nagumo of the NDC � on Radio Upper West�s Common Course programme aired on June 4, 2012 � Mr. Chris Dugan of NDC and an official of FONKAR � during Oman FM�s Boiling Point programme aired on June 5, 2012 � Mr. Mohammed Sahwil of the NPP � during North Star FM�s Hot Issues programme of June 6, 2012 � Mr. Ernest Owusu Bempah of NDC and an official of FONKAR � made three offensive comments during Oman FM�s Boiling Point programme of June 7, 2012 UNSUBSTANTIATED ALLEGATIONS � Micky Patrick, a caller from Techiman who identified with the NPP � during Classic FM�s Big Breakfast Show programme of June 6, 2012 � Mr. Ernest Owusu Bempah of NDC and an official of FONKAR � made two unsubstantiated allegations on Oman FM�s Boiling Point programme aired on June 7, 2012 � Hon. Ama Benyiwa Doe, Central Regional Minister � in an interview on Adom FM�s 6pm Evening News of June 7, 2012 GENDER-SPECIFIC INSULT � Mr. Kennedy Agyapong of the NPP � in an interview on Adom FM�s Dwaso Nsem programme of June 8, 2012 PROVOCATIVE REMARKS � Mr. Chris Dugan of NDC and an official of FONKAR � during Oman FM�s Boiling Point programme of June 5, 2012 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 made by people cited in our reports are, however, available at the MFWA.