Radio Stations Urged To Prevent Abusive Language

Nii Adjei Kraku II, Tema Mantse, has called on radio stations in the country to prevent the use of abusive language by contributors to programmes that could fuel conflicts, especially as the country prepares for the 2008 Election. The Tema Mantrse expressed worry that some callers abused opportunities offered them during phone-in programmes and insulted political leaders, government officials and eminent people in the country. Nii Kraku made the call at Tema Manhean when he inspected the building of Meridian FM, which was gutted by fire in December last year and was under reconstruction. He said the Tema Traditional Council, a stakeholder in Meridian FM, appreciated efforts being made by the station to educate Ghanaians on the culture of the Ga people as well as encouraging the use of the Ga language. Nii Kraku advised management of the FM station to cooperate with the Ghana National Fire Service, the Tema Municipal Assembly and the Police in ensuring safety at the station. He also visited the Naval Clinic at Tema, under construction and urged the US Navy team working on the project to complete the work on schedule. Mrs Diana Adu, Chief Executive Officer of Meridian FM, who took the chief round the building, said the fire started from the main studio and gutted all the equipment. She said the FM station which was operating temporarily from Ashaiman after the incident, came back on air at the FM station shortly after the incident because philanthropists donated new equipments to the radio station. Naval Lieutenant Gareth Montgomery, US Navy Officer in-charge of the clinic project, said the team had completed 75 percent of the over 135,000 dollar clinic project adding that the US Navy would donate medical equipments to the clinic next month. He said the one-storey facility if completed would have two wards, a pharmacy, medical offices and waiting room among others. Naval Lieutenant Montgomery said the construction work was being undertaken by 20 US Navy personnel and 15 personnel from the 49 Engineer Infantry of the Ghana Armed Forces. Commodore Mathew Quarshie, Flag Officer Commanding the Eastern Naval Command, said a US medical team on visit to Ghana two years ago interacted with the Ministry of Defence Medical Core to supply drugs to the command base. He said the facility if completed would also serve the people of Tema Manhean as part of the Navy's social responsibility.