The Executive Director for the Media Foundation for West Africa, Prof Kwame Karikari says the use of indecent language in the media which has been a source of worry to the foundation is a potential threat to free speech. He was speaking at a news conference organized by his outfit dubbed “the growing use of indecent and abusive language and expressions on radio stations: threats to free speech”. He said the last decade represents for the people of Ghana, the highest point in the enjoyment of the right to free speech. “However, there is a looming threat to the freedom Ghanaian citizens are enjoying. It comes from two sources: first the media themselves and then the political parties”, he noted with regret. He said the foundation was dismayed at the alarming increase in the use of indecent language, false allegations and personality assassination especially on radio and TV. According to Prof Karikari, the most culpable are political functionaries and people of substance who ought to know better. He said Ghanaians seem to be lauding vile and vicious-mouthed politicians judging from the trend of events. He however advised political parties to declare publicly a policy to eliminate insults and offensive language during the upcoming election campaigns for 2012. Rather they must uphold decent and civilized communication in public especially on radio and TV. He further admonished the NMC, NCA, GIBA and the advertisers association to up their game and mechanisms to enhance healthy language use in the media. He feared that as Ghana celebrates the repeal of the criminal libel and seditious libel laws, the menace if unchecked, poses a great threat to free speech. Story: Abraham Lante Lamptey/Asempa News/Ghana