The Role of Development Communication in Sustaining Development Projects: A Case Study of Usaid Systems for Health

Abstract

This research study sought to find out the role development communication plays in sustainable development projects in “rural” settlements within the Accra Metropolis. It is imperative to investigate this issue because previous academic researches on the same subject matter could not fill the knowledge gap. This study used an interview guide as a data collection tool to collect data from ten (10) participants. It analyses the data gathered using a descriptive – exploratory approach. Based on the objectives – the findings indicated that the components of development communication were used in the implementation of rural electrification. Also, organizations use television, radio channels, public announcement information centres, newspaper publications, and out-of-home displays such as billboards, posters, and banners to communicate to the target audience. The role of communication in community development has indeed enhanced the collaboration between the people promoting change and people receiving social change. The outcome also shows that communication helps in the implementation of the electricity and water projects. And that brought significant changes in the lives of the community and individual members within the community. The study recommends that project planners should design and adopt an appropriate communication model towards sustaining projects for project implementers and communities. This will enable players in this field to have a procedure to follow during the implementation of development projects and also know the roles they are supposed to play as far as sustenance of projects are concerned.