"KOTE" AND "ETWE" RADIO STATIONS IN GHANA?

How comfortable did you feel on seeing and reading such a caption for an article? Reaction to the question varies from person from person because one man's fancy may be too broad for one and too conservative for another. We honestly believe that many of the Ghanaian readers will feel very uncomfortable to read aloud such captions. If you feel nervous and fidget at just reading these graphic anatomical terms, we can imagine how you can react to hearing live on national radio as part of public sex education presentation.

Can you imagine calling your wife and asking her in Twi .." Adwoa, bra ha na ma me ndi wo twe" lit: Adwoa, come here and let's me use my penis to fuck you"?

Words such as "Kote", Etwe", "Di No", "Mmmm Mmmm", "Agyei, Agyei","Mewu oo", "Kotse", "Tafir mu","Obi Di Obi","Ewie Twe", Lick and other super sensitive biological words are the contents of some of the supposed sex education programmes on some of the radio stations.

If you live in Ghana and have a radio or live abroad and have access to the internet, you might have heard the programmes, Wo Ba Ada Anaa hosted on Peace FM,Accra and "Odo Ahomanso" hosted on Adom FM. These are very interesting programmes which is helping to educate the masses but the style of delivery leaves much to be desired. Many debates have taken place among religious leaders and their communities about whether christians, moslems or respectable individuals should listen to these programmes. Your response to the debate might be influenced by where your affiliation is, educational background, enlightement level and your upbringing.

This article is an attempt to dissect the programmes to find out about its shortfalls and to suggest ways that it can be improved so that it can achieve its general radio broadcast's mission of educating, informing and entertaining the masses. Ghanaian reaction to public discussion of sexual topics and sexuality education has some history; but basically the contemporary reaction borders on hypocrisy. This is because there was a time in Ghana when a highlife music composition by A.B.Crentsil titled Moses was considered too graphic, vulgar and an abomination against christianity. Many religious household banned playing it. The only broadcast house in Ghana then, the GBCs also banned it. The only time one could hear Moses being played was during mobile disco sessions by spinners such as Willie Chii, Sky Hawks, MEC Sounds, Mobisco, Studio 44,AFC, Zayaa, V103 and X105 Sounds etc. The lyrics in the original Moses composition was so graphic and sexually provocative so much that, many young people got into a relationship over that.

Daddy Lumba, originally of Lumba Brothers fame, who became Daddy Lumba then Lumba and today known as DL, has been controversial as he can be in real life because of his skills in composing romantic laden lyrics. Music of DL such as Aseaho, Me we wo, Aben Wo Ha respectivelly, though very popular among the younger generation is frowned at by many religious communities because many christians feel that they are too graphic.

Historically, our cultural practices such as Bragoro and Dipo were and has been responsible for the training of young women in rites of passage programmes in many communities. Training swept across disciplines, taking up the biology of reproduction, the psychology of relationships and marriage, the sociology of the family and citizenship education. It sought not simply to reduce health risks to teenagers but also to build self esteem, prevent sexual abuse and to promote respect for all kinds of families.

Today, with rural urban migration, globalization, christianization and advancement in science and technology, some of these traditions faces challenges and many communities have abandoned getting their children to undergo the rites of passage programme.

The privatisation of broadcast in the 1990s in Ghana followed the open talk and demands by intellectuals for the government to free the airwaves as enshrined in the constitution. This led to the emergence of private and community radio stations. Currently there are about 156 radio stations in Ghana and many of them making very positive impact on the people and the nation. Among the best and popular stations with quality programmes are Peace Fm and Adom Fm. These two stations have large following both in Ghana and among Ghanaian Diaspora.

Odo Ahomanso, Anandwe Wode-Adom FM ( Wednesday & Saturday nights-Ah Mmmm Ah Mmmmm Medaase) and Wo Ba Ada Anaa-Thursday Night ( Peace Fm) are the two comprehensive sexuality education programmes that has faced some reservation and opposition that has generated a lot of debates about the graphic nature of the delivery contents. Though these programmes is made for mature married audience, the reality is that more teenagers, young people,and unmarried people listen all the time. The question is are they teaching people too much too soon?

With the high incidence of the spread of sexually transmitted diseases among young people, shouldn't the presenters and guests tone down the graphic contents on the education of giving and receiving of pleasurable touch topics?

Another short fall is the use of non-credentialised professionals on the panel during programmes. Many of the panel personnel lack the knowledge so much that sometimes, instead of educating the listeners, they end up giving wrong information.

We appreciate the positive roles of these programmes, but we are of the view that producers refine its delivery approach because of our cultural and religious background. We believe that producers of the programmes will take our suggestions into consideration and implement them.