In the lead-up to Ghana’s December 2024 general elections, a report from the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has highlighted a concerning trend regarding the use of indecent language on radio. The report indicates that hosts from National Democratic Congress (NDC)-aligned stations are the primary offenders.
The MFWA’s monitoring report for July 2024 reveals that Nana Kwabena Bobie Ansah, the host of The Citizen Show on Accra FM, a pro-NDC station, recorded the highest number of violations, with 30 instances of abusive language out of a total of 62 documented cases. This marks the second consecutive month that Bobie Ansah has topped the list, following a similar performance in June 2024. Other notable offenders include Oheneba Boamah Benie and Mugaabe Maase, both from Power FM, another pro-NDC station, each with six violations.
The report, covering the period from July 1 to July 31, 2024, identified that insults and offensive comments were the most prevalent forms of abuse, accounting for 39 incidents, followed by 17 cases of unsubstantiated allegations. Additional violations included provocative comments and expressions containing tribal slurs. These infractions were largely linked to discussions surrounding elections, corruption, political party activities, and broader societal issues.
The MFWA expressed particular concern over the role of radio show hosts in perpetuating these violations, emphasizing their responsibility to uphold media ethics and foster respectful discourse, especially during this critical election period. The report also noted the growing dissemination of harmful expressions through social media platforms, which amplifies their potential impact on national peace and stability.
In response to these findings, the MFWA has urged political leaders to promote issue-based discussions and called on radio stations to enforce professionalism and respect in their programming. Additionally, the organization recommended that regulatory bodies strengthen measures to uphold media ethics. The full report is available for public review, underscoring the need for accountability in media practices as the elections approach.