The ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) received by far the most media coverage in the current political campaign during the first two weeks of October, according to a report issued by the National Media Commission (NMC).
The report said that of the nine political parties monitored, the NDC received more than 35 per cent of all media coverage. The New Patriotic Party (NPP) got the second most coverage - about 20 per cent from the media, which include private and state-owned newspapers, television and radio.
State-owned television, radio and newspapers accounted for the NDC and its candidates getting more than one third of the coverage. The newspapers are the Daily Graphic, The Mirror, Ghanaian Times, Ghanaian Chronicle, Evening News, Spectator, Dispatch and Public Agenda.
Radio stations are GBC 1 and 2, GBC FM stations in the regions, Joy FM and Peace FM. The TV stations are GTV and TV3. The NMC announced the first results of a pilot Media Monitoring Project at a meeting with politicians and journalist. The report was presented by Mr. Kweku Rockson, Project Co-ordinator, and Dr. Anthony Bonnah Koomson, project analyst.
For newspapers, out of 9,478 column inches, the parties received the following percentages: NDC 39.9; NPP 17.9; CPP 13.4; NRP 9.6; PNC 8.7; UGM 7.1; GCPP 2.6; Egle 0.7; and DPP 0.6.
In radio coverage, the parties received the following percentages: NDC 37.2; NPP 22.3; CPP 13.3; PNC 8.6; NRP 7.4; UGM 4.3; GCPP 4.3; DPP 1.1; and Egle. Out of 58 television stories, the parties received the following percentages: NDC 36, CPP 24; NPP 22; NRP 9; UGM 9.
The PNC, GCPP, Egle and DPP were not covered by television for the period under study. The monitoring project will continue to the December 7 elections. The next report covering the last two weeks of October would be made public on November 16
