Political parties in Ghana do not like condemning their own for wrongdoing, Prof Kwame Karikari has observed.

In a discussion about the use of abusive language and hate speech on Class 91.3FM’s Executive Breakfast Show on Monday May 30, the academic and founder of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) identified the reluctance by political parties to condemn their members when they go wrong as a factor which could fester hate speech.

“Another element, which is also very favourable for hate speech developing is, if you have noticed, our political parties are completely averse to chastising or condemning their members when they make statements that could lead to other members of the party embracing hate speech against certain groups.

“Quite all of the time, leading members from political parties have made statements that are very bad and very dangerous that need to be condemned, but their parties have defended them publicly, their parties have not chastised them and …once political parties let anything go, they cannot stop the worst when it comes,” Prof Karikari noted.

He also said the desperation of parties to win power could also spark hate speech. “The more our politicians get desperate and want to win by all means, especially to just come to power; you can then say that they are likely to tolerate anything. When they get more desperate, you don’t know what else they would do, they would do any kind of tactics for votes.”