Livelihood Improvement Through Participatory Mass Communications: A Study on Community Radio and the Lives of Women in Northern Ghana

Abstract

The lack of access to the media and economic information has historically side-lined women in Ghana from being active contributors to the local economy, even though women do most of the farm work. Small, community-owned mass media systems such as community radio stations provide a channel through which rural women can be targeted through mass communication projects which are aimed at economic and livelihood improvement. This study sought to find out how the programmes and activities of community radio stations in Northern Ghana are improving the livelihoods and economic capabilities of women in their broadcast areas through participatory programming. The study used a mixed methods approach in the collection of data and its analysis. Focus group discussion, semi-structured interviews, and radio programme analysis were the main data collection tools. One key finding of the study is that through community radio, agricultural information is easily disseminated to women in Northern Ghana. As a result, knowledge about new farming practices and technology is easily diffused to women, who happen to be about 60% of the agricultural workforce (GSS, 2020). As such, community radio has had a significantly positive influence on the livelihoods and economic empowerment of women. Based on these findings, the study recommends that more opportunities be provided for women to volunteer as community journalists and hosts of programmes since this directly affects how women adopt new technology and agricultural knowledge.