Examining the Effectiveness of Operation and Management of Community Radio Towards Improvement in the Livelihoods of People in the Communities of Greater Accra Region, Ghana: A Case Study of Latenu Radio’s Operation in La, Teshie and Nungua

Abstract

This study examined how effective the operating and managing of Community Radio (CR) is for improving livelihoods through community development using Latenu Radio (for the La, Teshie and Nungua in the Greater Accra Region, Ghana) as a case study. The central argument of this study is that CR plays a significant role in improving the livelihoods of the community people. Using both primary and secondary sources including purely quantitative method (survey questionnare) and peer reviewed articles from scholarly journals as well as newspapers respectively, it examines the effectiveness of the operating and managing of Community Radio at La, Teshie and Nungua communities. The target population of this study comprised all residents of the three communities under study made up of Fifteen (15) residents selected from each community, hence the sample size for the study is 45. Within the frame of the non-probability sampling, purposive sampling technique was used. Findigs revealed a willing desire by the stations to fulfil an important role of providing communities with timely information about the socio-economic issues. At the same time, citizens are expressing optimism about access to a larger polity made available to them by the stations. The study concludes that, CR has a positive impact on community development mainly in the areas of school, hospital and road constructions, access to water and electricity. It recommended that: the Management of CR and NGOs should invest time, efforts and resources to sensitize community members about CR and for that matter the roles community members have to play in community radio operations and management. This should also guarantee continuous support and sustainability of CR