Rural Broadcasting In Ghana

Abstract

Rural Broadcasting began in October 1962. From that date, broadcasts to the rural people took on a new character. Programmes designed to educate, inform and entertain the rural people were mounted in the Ghanaian Languages. Special programmes for rural women were also broadcast. These programmes became very popular with the listeners as reflected in Listener Research Reports.

In rural broadcasting, not only do the active and energetic staff of the Rural Broadcasts Department broadcast special programmes to farmers, fishermen and other specialized groups, but they go to the people to ensure that they practice what they hear on the air and that the programmes achieve the desired result. The programmes feature agricultural news, interviews with successful farmers, talks by experts on new methods of farming, nutrition, child-care and market reports.

An important branch of Rural Broadcasting is the Rural Radio Forums. This was introduced in 1964 following a successful pilot project in Rural Radio Forum undertaken by the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation. Through the Rural Radio Forums, a series of listening groups of farmers are formed in different parts of the country. With the help of GBC, farmers are encouraged to listen to broadcasts on improved methods of farming and to adopt the methods for their own use. With the availability of adequate transport and portable tape recorders, the rural broadcaster maintains close and regular contact with the rural listener, thus helping to solve social and economic problems. Staff of the Rural Department gives listeners on-the-spot advice and assistance with the collaboration of Regional Agricultural Extension Officers.

Rural broadcasting is one of the most important aspects of broadcasting in Ghana, in view of the fact that the rural people who form the greater part of the country's population are mainly engaged in agriculture; the backbone of the country's economy. Broadcasting-radio and television is a vital medium of public information. The most effective of them is television broadcasting because it combines picture and sound which makes it more interesting and attractive. However, radio remains the most popular, as it is comparatively cheap and can operate easily on ordinary dry cell batteries; therefore without electricity. In Africa, there are estimated to be about 100 radio receivers per 1000 people, whereas there are no more than 10 television receivers for the same number, and even those are concentrated in the towns. The picture is not different in Ghana where there are about 219 radio receivers to 1000 people versus 13 TV receivers for the same population; and they are mostly found in the cities and urban areas.