Morning show host of Accra-based radio Station Kasapa 102.5FM, Kwaku Owusu Adjei aka ‘Patoo’ has advised politicians to cherish and use the expensive airtime they are given for free in a manner devoid of character assassination.
He bemoaned the practice where lots of politicians rather than selling their message to the electorates when they are given the opportunity on air, spend time launching needless personal attacks on their opponents in a bid to run them down.
The deep-thinking presenter fears the trend could get worse if not checked immediately as the country ushers into the political season ahead of the 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
“As presenters who want to do a good job, such needless attacks on yourselves as politicians make our job difficult. You’ll lose nothing as party commentators if you avoid getting personal about your opponents. This is a plea to you party communicators. If our sales executives were to tell you how much we charge for one minute of advertizement you would have valued the airtime we give you for free. Anytime you get the opportunity to speak on the radio, target the electorate and try to convince them and stop the unnecessary attacks on yourselves. We can do decent politicking in this country, this is my humble advice to political party communicators,” the experienced Presenter said.
Verbal attacks among political opponents usually go notches higher during the political season and sometimes get nasty.
A report compiled by the Media Foundation for West Africa(MFWA) in election years has the governing New Patriotic Party(NPP) and opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to be political parties using the most abusive languages in Ghana’s media.
In a report released by MFWA in 2016 ahead of the election 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.
Source: Kasapafmonline.com/102.5FM