The latest findings on the use of indecent expressions on radio for the period June 3 ďż˝ 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:
ďż˝ Members of the NDC were in the lead in the use of indecent expressions;
ďż˝ 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
ďż˝ 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 ďż˝ 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:
ďż˝ Insulting and offensive comments: 7
ďż˝ Unsubstantiated Allegations: 4
ďż˝ Gender-specific Insult: 1
ďż˝ 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.
EXPRESSIONS USED ON SPECIFIC PROGRAMMES/SUBJECTS
Most of the indecent expressions recorded were captured on evening/night political discussion programmes. Specifically, five of the seven insulting/offensive comments; two of the unsubstantiated allegations and the only provocative remark were all made during evening/night discussion programmes.
Discussions about issues of corruption, constitutional matters and internal wrangling were the main subjects of discussions during which majority of the indecent expressions were recorded.
EXPRESSIONS USED ON SPECIFIC RADIO STATIONS
The 13 indecent expressions were recorded on six radio stations: Oman FM, Adom FM, Classic FM, Royal FM, North Star FM and Radio Upper West. More than half (53.9%) of the indecent expressions were, however, made on Oman FM.
The monitoring also captured the replay of indecent expressions by the host of Alhaji and Alhaji programme on Radio Gold aired on Saturday, 9th June, 2012. The host of the said programme played back the ethnocentric remarks made by Hon. Kennedy Agyapong on Oman FM and his offensive comments against the Central Regional Minister, Hon. Ama Benyiwa Doe, on Adom FM.
The rebroadcast was done during discussions on the unsubstantiated comments the Minister made on Adom FM following the communal violence in some part of the Central Region.
CONCLUSION
Once again, Oman FM was in the lead as the radio station on which majority of the indecent expressions were recorded. Specifically, Oman FM�s Boiling Point registered seven of the 13 indecent expressions. It is also significant to note that the seven indecent expressions were made by the two FONKAR officials, Mr. Ernest Owusu Bempah and Mr. Chris Dugan.
Thus, FONKAR members are increasingly using Oman FM�s morning and evening/night political discussion programmes as the platform to abuse people verbally.
The MFWA commends the moderators of the programmes being monitored on the 31 selected radio stations who are always insisting on issues-based discussions. We also encourage those who have not been professional enough to emulate the former�s example.
Issued by MFWA in Accra on June 14, 2012.
The MFWA is a regional independent, non-profit, non-governmental organization based in Accra. It was founded in 1997 to defend and promote the rights and freedom of the media and all forms of expression.
Source: Media Foundation For West Africa
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