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The Media Foundation for West Africa�s (MFWA) report on campaign language monitoring for August 12�18, 2012 indicates that the General Secretaries of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, and the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie (Sir John), were part of the people who made indecent expressions on radio. Asempa FM, an Accra-based radio station was the platform on which the highest number (5) of indecorus expressions was made. Below is the full report: MFWA: REPORT ON CAMPAIGN LANGUAGE MONITORING ON RADIO The monitoring of campaign language-use on radio by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) over the past week (August 12 � 18, 2012: week 20 of monitoring) has revealed that a total of 16 indecent expressions were recorded. The General Secretaries of the two main political parties in the country, the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), were part of those who made the 16 indecent expressions. Unsubstantiated allegations, insulting/offensive comments and provocative remarks were the categories of indecent expressions used. Other details of the findings, such as the political affiliation and the names of the individuals who made indecent expressions and the radio stations on which indecent expressions were recorded are reflected in this report. 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 in Ghana. General Findings on Expressions Used Reports received from our monitors on the programmes monitored in the course of the week under review were 91 in all. The reports covered 30 of the 31 radio stations selected for the project. The reports indicated that most of the programmes on which indecent expressions were captured were morning and evening/night political discussion talk shows. The main subject matter around which majority of the indecent expressions was made was the health of the late President, H.E. John Evans Atta Mills. A total of 16 indecent expressions were recorded on 10 of the programmes aired on six (6) radio stations. The breakdown is as follows: � Unsubstantiated Allegations: 6 � Insulting/Offensive Comments: 5 � Provocative Remarks: 5 It appears that these three categories of indecent expressions are often used in attacking people since at least one of them is recorded almost every other week. Expressions Used by Political Party Affiliation The 16 indecent expressions were made by three groups of people/stations. Thirteen (13) out of the 16 indecent expressions were made by officials/supporters of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP). Affiliates of the NDC, however, led by registering half (8, representing 50%) of the indecent expressions recorded. Officials/supporters of the NPP followed with five (5, representing 31.2%) of the indecent expressions. The remaining three indecent expressions were made up of replays of indecent expressions by two radio stations and an indecent remark read and interpreted by a presenter. The affiliation of the radio stations and the presenter could not be established. Officials of the two political parties who were found to have made two indecent expressions each are: 1. Mr. Allotey Jacobs, the Central Regional Director of Communications for the NDC 2. Hon. Betty Bosumtwi-Sam, a former Deputy Minister for the Western Region and an NDC member 3. Mr Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie (Sir John), the General Secretary of the NPP Expressions Used by Gender Only one female was found culpable of the use of indecent expressions. Specifically, two of the 16 indecent expressions were made by a woman. However, no gender-specific indecent expression was made over the one-week period. The individuals who made the indecent expressions are named below (including those named above). The radio stations and the dates on which the indecent expressions were made are also indicated. Unsubstantiated Allegations 1. Mr Allotey Jacobs of the NDC � during Adom FM�s Dwaso Nsem of August 14, 2012 2. Asempa FM replayed the allegation made by Mr Allotey Jacobs on Adom FM during its Ekosii Sen programme of August 14, 2012 3. Mr Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie (Sir John), General Secretary of the NPP � during Asempa FM�s Ekosii Sen programme of August 15, 2012 4. Adom FM replayed the allegation made by Mr Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie (Sir John) on Asempa FM�s Ekosii Sen programme during Adom FM�s 6:00 pm News aired on August 15, 2012 5. Hon. Betty Bosumtwi- Sam, a former Deputy Minister for the Western Region and an NDC member � during Skyy Power FM�s Jolly Breakfast Show of August 15, 2012 6. A caller who identified himself as Hadzi and as an NPP supporter from Takoradi � during Skyy Power FM�s Jolly Breakfast Show of August 15, 2012.� This comment was also considered offensive. Insulting/offensive 1. Obedombie Kwaku Adukumi, an Adom FM presenter, read and translated indecent expressions from the Ghana Palaver newspaper during Adom FM�s Newspaper Review segment of August 15, 2012. 2. A panellist on Obuoba FM�s Kasa programme of August 14, 2012 who was identified only as Frimpong and an NPP representative � during the said programme. The presenter, Oheneba Kissi, asked him to retract the statement but Frimpong said he was quoting from someone else and so didn�t retract. 3. Mr Sule Bello, the NDC representative who was also on the Obuoba FM�s Kasa programme of August 14, 2012 responded to Frimpong�s comment with an offensive remark. The presenter, Oheneba Kissi, told him to retract the statement and he did. 4. Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, the General Secretary of the NDC � during Citi Eyewitness News of August 16, 2012 5. Mr Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie (Sir John), the General Secretary of the NPP � during Asempa FM�s Ekosii Sen programme of August 15, 2012