Convergence of Radio and Mobile Telephony – Any Effects on Rural Access, Habits and Development?

Using a multidisciplinary approach, BoldSteps Foundation Ghana, The Centre for Media and Transition Societies, and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) Canada have been researching into the impacts of the convergence of radio and mobile telephony on access, habits and development. This post summarises the discussions of the Focus Group Discussions held with five different women's groups with a membership of about 200.

Seventy six (76) women mostly aged between 25 and 45 participated in the face to face discussions.
1 in 4 of all the women possessed mobile phone devices although all of them are accessible at least through a close relative or neighbour. Two women claimed they had never used a mobile device to converse.
3 in 5 (58%) women own radio sets and all women have access to and familiar with the operation of a radio set.
57% are strongly convinced radio has the ability to influence policy. One thing they all agree is that radio and mobile telephony can and have improved their livelihoods.

Read the entire report here or download the PDF

1400 words, 7 pages A4

At Nabiina FM, it is mostly an all women affair during the Weekly Gender Discussions programme. Do the panellists believe they can change policy through their contributions?

Do you believe the things you say on radio can influence policy? This topic generated debate in all situations. Some participants changed views as the debate went on but this report focuses on the number of votes before the debate took place. Of all the women present during the discussions, 43 representing 57% believed in the ability of radio to influence policy. Of the other 43%, nearly half of them (14 women) were not sure what to think. Responses included, “.... they know it is the messages they gave us on radio that made us vote them so they cannot turn around and ignore what we say on radio”, “I don't believe the suggestions on radio are ever taken serious by policy makers, otherwise we would have been far better off than we are now” and “If we can occasionally collate views from listeners and studio panellists and give these views to the policy makers, radio will play an even more crucial role in our lives”.
  Read the entire report here or download the PDF