The Role of Indigenous Modes of Communication in Enhancing Development Support Communication in Ghana

ABSTRACT

Yesterday, development initiatives favoured elaborate and costly programmes/projects. Today, emphasis has shifted to poverty reduction strategies. Diaz-Bordanave (1979) argued that the heavy investments in development programmes coupled with their very large number appear incommensurate with outcomes. Recently, Sachs (2005), in a study on achievements of Millennium Development Goals, aimed at poverty reduction, concludes that progress so far has been spotty, and extreme poverty is, in fact, rising. Why have both development approaches not yielded the desired results? A school of thought posits that the missing element may well be a communication gap between planners and beneficiary communities. In Ghana, dissemination of information on GPRS I & II has at best included Regional Fora. There has been a heavy reliance on western modern modes of communication in a top-down approach. The discourse on the right modes of communication for sustainable development is inexhaustible and unending. In contributing to the discourse, this study sought an answer to the question:  What role(s) do indigenous modes of communication play in enhancing Development Support Communication for sustainable rural development? The methodology which begins with a profile of the study area, drew largely on qualitative research approaches. I adopted Brown's (1996) non-experimental descriptive survey research design approach. A Questionnaire, Focus Group Discussions, Documentation and Observation were main sources of data collection. I also adopted Yin's (1993) idea of simultaneous and continuous data collection and analysis. Analysis was in consonance with the Merriam (1988) narrative description of findings. Variable Analysis was by SPSS. The study draws the conclusion that there is a growing recognition and fear that indigenous modes of communication though very resilient, are in mutation. If no urgent steps are taken, they may, at best, lose their originality and, at worst, disappear in thd face of an onslaught from modem modes of communication. It is recommended, therefore, that:  Research studies should be conducted into all facets of the media for cultural communication. Findings should be documented, taught and promoted so as to preserve indigenous modes of communication in the study area.