Political communication in Ghana: Exploring evolving trends and their implications for national development

Abstract

Since 1992 the mass media in Ghana has contributed towards electoral democracy. It has served as a conduit for political debates and for political education of the citizenry. This chapter explores evolving trends in issue-based politics and their implications for national development within a complex socio-political context, including poverty, illiteracy, intemperate political language and ‘winner-takes-all’ politicking, in which the contributions of stakeholders are required to overcome obstacles. The chapter discusses the importance of nurturing conducive political culture. It views political tolerance as fundamental in communication processes within a democratic dispensation. The argument is that in a polarised political climate building synergies among stakeholders is paramount, because this can engender democratic participant communication processes to promote public interest and national unity.