Controlling Narratives In The Digital Age: A Case Of The Ghana Police Service

Abstract

This study examines how the Ghana Police Service uses social media to frame narratives and how these practices influence public perceptions of institutional legitimacy and accountability. Guided by Framing Theory and Public Sphere Theory, the study adopts a quantitative cross-sectional design and surveyed 250 social media users in Ghana who engage with official police platforms. Descriptive and inferential analyses were conducted to assess framing patterns, perceived credibility, transparency, and communicative purpose. The findings indicate that the Ghana Police Service’s digital communication is predominantly authority-centred, emphasising law-and-order narratives and institutional control, with a secondary focus on community-oriented messaging. Exposure to police messaging was significantly associated with perceptions of legitimacy and trust, although respondents expressed reservations about openness and dialogic engagement. The results suggest that social media is used more as a tool for narrative management than as a forum for reciprocal engagement. The study concludes that while digital communication enhances visibility and credibility, its contribution to democratic interaction remains limited without stronger accountability and participatory practices. The findings contribute to debates on institutional communication, power, and democratic engagement in digital environments.