The Media and democracy in Ghana: The Challenges of Ensuring Good Governance

Abstract

The attitudes and cultures of the past continue to dominate Ghana media’s engagement with political leaders. This media landscape since the decolonizing period has been a binary one as expressed in for and against - incumbents. The authoritarian character of governance in the past gave a genesis to it. The protracted authoritarian and illiberal regimes before the inauguration of the 4th Republic closed various modes of expression resulting in the calcification of antagonistic relationships. The democratic transformation since 1992 has not really changed the mode of engagement. With some degree of democratic consolidation, focus has significantly shifted towards ensuring good governance, which encapsulates a government based on rule of law, political accountability and transparency. The media's role in ensuring that power-wielders operate within the standards required for 'good governance’ is critical. However, the effectiveness of the media is blunted by its deep-seated partisanship. The credibility crisis that afflicts it makes readership to perceive the media as a fronting meant for political vilification and capitalization. The paper examines the issues that generate the credibility problems and concludes that unless the media transcends the cultures of the past its relevancy in ensuring good governance cannot be assured.