AbstractsCommunication

There has been an increase in the number of community radio stations in Ghana, since the last decade. The objectives for which these stations are established include making information accessible to the communities that they serve. Community radio stations are not for profit and mostly have the interest of the communities in which they are based in mind. Scholars in development communication hold the view that, community radio stations can drive and accelerate development in developing countries including Ghana. Radio Progress, an initiative of the Department of Social Communications (DEPSOCOM) of the Catholic diocese of Wa and Mass Media for Development, a local non-governmental organisation, has since 1997 broadcast to serve the needs of the people of the Upper-west Region. This study explored the roles that community radio play in community development. The study also tried to establish how community radio stations reflect the development aims of the communities in which they operate and whether the programmes of the stations promote the development of the communities within their catchment areas. The social responsibility and development media theories underpinned the study. The study adopted the survey and interview approach and so questionnaire was used to collect data from 100 listeners of Radio Progress and an interview guide was used to conduct an interview with the programmes manager and head of projects at Radio Progress. Advisors/Committee Members: Karikari, K (advisor).