COMMUNITY RADIO AS A TOOL FOR DEVELOPMENT: A STUDY OF PARTICIPATION IN THE FANTEAKWA DISTRICT IN GHANA

Abstract

The thesis investigates community radio as a tool for development drawing on participation, with evidence from the Fanteakwa District in Ghana. The thesis employs the concept of participatory development communications and the empowerment theory to help understand the role of community radio in development. This thesis set out to find out if the participation of local people is necessary for development. The study adopted the mixed method research approach. Data was collected through survey questionnaires and semi structured interviews. Purposive sampling and the multi-stage sampling techniques were used to select respondents for this study. This thesis reveals that participation is highest amongst people whose preferred channel of contribution to development initiatives is Radio Listenership Clubs. It also lays bare, the fact that community radio is not necessarily owned by the community, but can be the result of an individual’s entrepreneurial efforts even though private ownership has the capacity to reduce local participation in initiatives. The thesis concludes that; community radio builds the capabilities of local people by giving them resources to enhance their representation in the planning and implementation of development initiatives. This allows them to act as partners with donor agencies and local government. A legislation on community broadcasting is recommended. This is to define the role individual entrepreneurs and NGO’s can play in establishing community radio stations