In the lead-up to Ghana’s December 2024 general elections, a report from the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has raised alarms about the rising use of indecent language on radio, with hosts from National Democratic Congress (NDC)-aligned stations emerging as the worst offenders.
The July 2024 edition of MFWA’s monitoring report reveals that Nana Kwabena Bobie Ansah, host of The Citizen Show on Accra FM, a pro-NDC station, led the pack with 30 infractions out of 62 documented cases of abusive language on the airwaves. This marks the second consecutive month that Bobie Ansah has topped the list, following a similar performance in June 2024. Also notable are Oheneba Boamah Benie and Mugaabe Maase, hosts on another pro-NDC station, Power FM, who each recorded six violations.
The report, covering the period from July 1 to July 31, 2024, identified a total of 62 instances of indecent expressions across ten radio stations. Insults and offensive comments were the most frequent forms of abuse, accounting for 39 incidents, followed by unsubstantiated allegations with 17 cases. The remaining violations included provocative comments and expressions containing tribal slurs.
These infractions primarily arose from discussions related to elections, corruption, political party activities, conflicts, demonstrations, and broader development issues. The involvement of radio show hosts in such violations is particularly concerning, as they are expected to uphold media ethics and ensure respectful discourse on the airwaves. The report highlights the potential of these hosts to exacerbate tensions during this critical election period.
Beyond traditional radio broadcasts, the report also warns of the increasing spread of these harmful expressions through social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube, further amplifying their reach and potential impact on national peace and stability.
The MFWA has called on political leaders to encourage issue-based discussions, urged radio stations to enforce professionalism and respect in their programming, and recommended that regulatory bodies strengthen measures to promote media ethics. The full report is available for public review.