In any democratic country the
media plays a vital role in creating, moulding and reflecting public opinion.
An impartial and fearless media is the basic requirement for the success of democracy.
The Ghanaian media has developed recent times and they play important roles in
ensuring national development. Some of the roles played by the media
include:



Media plays a very important and
crucial role in enlightening and educating the people, the media in the country
keep the people updated in all cases which is of national interest. Some of the
media stations also telecast educative programs which help in the educating of
the people. The various media houses also telecast the daily news which helps
in the enlightening of the people about things and issues that are current or
of national interest. The media organize debates and group discussions about
the current political issues in order to enlighten the people about the democratic
process in the country, and this is shown in most of their morning and evening
shows on their channels.



The media can aid public
involvement through advocating issue and transferring knowledge, skills and
technologies to the people. The Ghanaian media have done a lot as far as
involvement of the public is concerned; the media allows the public to react to
issues of public interest. The media helps the public by transferring of latest
and current technologies through their programs and also impact skills to the
public through some of their programs.



Awareness about various rural
development programs, propagation of family planning could be spread by using
the media. The media in recent times make sure that the rural areas and the
development of such places are also brought to the screens of the public; also
the rural areas that are social amenities and infrastructure are also brought
directly to the citizens for public views.



The Government can use the media
more effectively to make it an instrument of social change; the media has a
distinctive role to play in bringing communal harmony which in turn will preserve
the secular fabric of a democratic country. It also serves to highlight those
issues which violate human rights.



Media has exposed a number of corrupt
practices, hidden deals, thus putting a check on the cancer in the form of
corruption in the society. The media have done very to expose both corrupt
practices of both governmental officials, public servants and also of the
public. The various news channels keep the vigilant citizens updated. Media
plays very emphatic role in awakening people against many evils prevailed in
the society like arm robbery, the evil practice of child labor, prostitution
etc.



Media serves as a bridge between
the government and the people. The government's policies and actions are
conveyed to the people, and the latter's views are forcefully expressed to make
the authorities aware of the public feelings. It makes the policy makers aware of
the wrongs that may otherwise escape attention.



During election periods, the
media can play very important role by publishing the biodata of the candidates,
which makes the general public aware about the candidates, to whom they are planning
to vote. This role of the media has been shown in recent times for which all
can bear witness to that.



Ghanaian media has led to the promotion of
business through advertisements. The telecasting of latest updates about
techniques of economy management are providing fruitful to trade and commerce.
This has helped the private sector to advertise what they have at their
disposal that aid economic development.



Though the Ghanaian media has
helped in national development and has also promoted democracy, there are some
things that the media must watch out for and prevent. The vulgarity displayed
in advertisements, serials and music videos should be checked because they
reach the

audience directly in home. The media should work
towards stories that generate confidence about creative potential of the
grassroots. The media should be partner in national development.

The Ghanaian media has done perfectly well to ensure
national development, their work have been guided by efficiency and
rationality, but there are more the media can do to ensure that the country
attains its highest development without blemish.

Lamptey Alfred

Knust

Alfredlamptey88@yahoo.com