Ghana's New Media Landscape Explored

Ghana's new media landscape is a vibrant and rapidly evolving space. The country has seen a significant increase in social media usage, with over 30 million active social media users as of 2022.

This growth has led to the emergence of new media platforms and formats, including online news websites and mobile apps. Ghanaian media outlets are now competing with international players for online attention.

The Ghanaian government has also taken notice of the shift to new media, with the Ministry of Communications launching initiatives to promote digital literacy and online safety.

Freedom of the press is guaranteed by the 1992 Constitution. This means that media outlets in Ghana are free to operate as they like, but they must follow the regulations set by the National Media Commission.

The Right to Information Act, passed in 2019, authorises journalists to demand information of national interest. This law is a significant step forward for transparency and accountability in Ghana.

However, a clause in the law allows a fee to be charged if the information is requested in a language other than English. This provision has been used to prevent journalists from accessing the information they seek, which can be a barrier to their work.

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Methodology is a crucial step in any research project, and in the context of studying new media in Ghana, several methods can be employed.

Surveys have been a familiar method used in mass communication research, including studies on Computer Mediated Discourses and civic discourses.

Textual analysis, rhetoric, and discourse analyses have been identified as probable methods for studying problems relating to civic discourses specifically.

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In Western democracies, younger generations are withdrawing from civic life, with alarming numbers of young people in the United States, Germany, Sweden, and the United Kingdom disengaging from conventional politics and government.

This trend is particularly concerning, as it suggests a decline in civic participation and engagement among younger people. Putnam (2000) notes that Americans in the last three decades of the 20th century witnessed a significant decline in political participation, charitable contributions, and involvement in community organizations.

Despite this withdrawal from offline civic life, studies suggest that young people are interested in online civic engagements. In Ghana, a fledgling democratic state, young people are seeking to master the use of the internet and social media tools to express themselves and connect with peers.

The University of Ghana is a hub for young people seeking to engage with civic discourses, and social media presents an opportunity to promote civic engagement among this group. The study aims to investigate the use of social media for civic discourses among students of the University of Ghana.

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The significance of new media in Ghana cannot be overstated. It has led to a nearly nine-fold increase in the usage of mobile phones and personal computers between 2002 and 2005.

New media has also given birth to an Information technology (IT) industry, including call-centers and some computer manufacturing. This industry has created new job opportunities and contributed to the country's economic growth.

Ghana has implemented a forward-thinking Information and Communications Technology (ICT) strategy, known as the Information and Communications Technology For Accelerated Development project (ICT4AD). This strategy has led to the implementation of several e-learning, e-government, and national-based IT initiatives.

The Ghana Open Data Initiative and National Information Technology Agency (NITA) were established in 2008, and a national ICT infrastructure roll-out was implemented. This has had a positive effect on the development of ICT-based business and general high ICT usage in Ghana.

Dropifi, an application software company founded by Ghanaian entrepreneurs, has become the first African company to join the 500 Startups program in Silicon Valley. The company's application software helps businesses sort customer feedback on the Internet and has over 6,000 clients in more than 30 countries worldwide.

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New media has also been used for business and community development in Ghana. Students at the University of Ghana use Facebook as the most popular social media tool, and it's used for various purposes such as meeting new friends, sharing information on academic work, and updating family and friends.

The study of new media in Ghana is significant as it will support in identifying and exploring how applicable modern technologies can be engaged to facilitate civic discourses which are essential in beefing up processes of good governance and democracy.

The university provides a heterogeneous environment which initiates students to diverse people and perspectives. Students' interactions and experiences of diversity have the possibility to introduce them to new ideas and to challenge their pre-existing views.

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Ghana has a vibrant new media landscape, with a significant portion of users leveraging the internet as an "escape" mechanism to connect with the Western world as a poverty reduction strategy. Sey (2011) notes that many users get online to reach people in Western countries who can provide financial means for migration.

The most popular social media tool among students of the University of Ghana is Facebook, which is used for a variety of purposes including meeting new friends, sharing information on academic work, and updating family and friends. Facebook's popularity is not limited to students, as it has over 1,436,560 users in Ghana, making it rank number 73 globally.

In Ghana, Facebook penetration is 5.90% of the country's population, with 110.76% of internet users having a Facebook account. The population of Facebook users grew by more than 231,140 in the last 6 months.

About 41% of Ghana's Facebook user population is between 18 and 24 years old, an age group that is typically beginning university education or entering the professional world. This age group is also the most active on social media, with many using platforms like Facebook to stay connected with friends and family.

Ghana was one of the first African countries to get connected to the internet in 1989-1990, but the extent of use of the new media technology among Ghanaians is limited due to underdevelopment of existing telecommunications infrastructure.