Following the conviction of five directors of a radio station a media watchdog body, Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), says the signs were all over the wall that the Accra-based station was becoming irresponsible.

Executive Director of MFWA, Sulemana Braimah, told Joy News’ Newsnite Monday, Montie FM had topped two surveys of 40 radio stations using the most abusive language.

Out of more than 900 radio programmes monitored, Montie FM's political program, 'Pampaso' was the source of all 16 recorded incidents between the period of May 1-15, 2016.

The chickens came home to roost after the Supreme Court found all directors guilty of criminal contempt following threats by two panelists and a host to kill some judges.

At the second day of the Supreme Court hearing, the three media persons, Alistair Nelson and Godwin Ako Gunn and the host of the radio program Salifu Maase also known as 'Mugabe' were convicted.

The Directors were not spared. Baffoe Bonnie, Edward Addo, Kwesi Kyei Atuah and Kwaku Bram-Dabi were present while a fifth Director Ato Ahwoi was not in the country, the panel of judges presided over by Justice Sophia Akuffo found. 

The Directors presented explained that they had not paid enough attention to the content of the radio station.

While begging for mercy, Harry Zakkour told the court they will be now minded to monitor content. The court would not accept their explanations and convicted them of criminal contempt, awaiting sentencing on May 27.

Speaking after the verdict, Sulemana Briamah said he would “be last person to be happy to see anybody thrown to jail or suffer criminal punishment as a result of what they say or do”.

Sulemana Briamah

Nonetheless, reckless commentary on radio ultimately affects the media because it opens journalists to physical attacks from the public, he said.

The Executive Director explained that if the public is made to believe that the media is free to write and say anything, it emboldens people to also take the law into their own hands and assault journalists.

While provocative commentary may attract listeners, Sulemana Braimah believes that if all media networks uphold the ethics of the profession, it kills the appetite of persons who revile in the politics of insults.