Browsing by Author "Amoakohene, M.I."
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Item Contemporarising ɔhene tene (the Akan chief’s procession) as political communication(Legon Journal of the Humanities, 2018) Amoakohene, M.I.This paper is about politics and communication in a Ghanaian traditional setting. It focuses on ɔhene tene (the Akan chiefly procession) as a single act of non-rhetorical symbolic communication. Situated within the conceptual frameworks of public relations and political communication, the description and analysis of ɔhene tene characterises its staging as image-making which communicates and projects power and authority. Through in-depth interviews, observation, and drawing on encoding and decoding of the sight spectacle, observed visual and sound elements of ɔhene tene are detailed, highlighting their signification and consequential roles that combine as public relations and political communication activities. Ɔhene tene is contextualised and proposed as a constructed image typology and “political language” with lessons for political communication and public relations practices.Item Continuity in change: A history of radio for national development(Radio Journal: International Studies in Broadcast & Audio Media, 2019) Tietaah, G.K.M.; Amoakohene, M.I.; Smith, M.S.In this article, we assert and demonstrate a particular and enduring adaptability of radio in tandem with observable temporal shifts in development communication theory and practice in Africa. Specifically, we use the historical research method to explore and explain the ideological discourses, polity contours and social forces that have overlain the role of radio as both an index and an instrument of develop ment in Ghana. The evidence reveals that radio has transitioned through three key milestones in how the technology has been appropriated and applied to national development efforts: from transplantation, through transmission, to transaction. Each of these phases coincides, incidentally, with paradigm shifts in development communication theorizing: from modernization through diffusion to participation. They also coincide, broadly, with three distinctive epochs of ideological shifts in the historical accounting on radio for development in Ghana: from British impe rial hegemony, through post-independence command-and-control, to contemporary liberal pluralism.Item Corporate Rebranding: An Evaluation of the Internal Communication Strategies of the Ghana Revenue Authority(University of Ghana, 2015-10) Sunkwa, A.K.; Amoakohene, M.I.; University of Ghana, College of Education, School of Information and Communication Studies, Department of Communication studiesCommunication is key to the survival and growth of every organisation. No wonder some scholars hold the view that communication is the solution to all organisational problems One such scholar is Goldhaber (1984 ) who saw organisational communication as the ultimate determinant of all organizational outcomes. Scholars who share this view, say it is wrong to place communication on the same level as organization behavioural variables such as motivation, leadership and job satisfaction. This is because to Goldhaber et al (1984), communication is far more important than all other variables. Communication is the key factor that determines all other variables and that “without communication , there can be no motivation, leadership productivity and no organisation (Goldhaber et al 1984, pg. 305). Internal communication which is a subset of general communication deals with the exchange of information, creating understanding and behaviours within an organisation. It is defined as “ the symbolic interaction that occurs within organisations among organisation members” (Pearson et al 2003). When employed very well in an organisation, internal communication can help improve the culture of an organisation through the active participation of all employees and management. It involves the use of an integrated use of communication channels to engage employees and to ensure their effective buy-in to the organisation’s mission, vision policies and programmes. This study seeks to find out the communication between management of Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and their employeesItem The dark side of multi-platform advertising in an emerging economy context(Multi-Platform Advertising Strategies in the Global Marketplace, 2018-01) Yeboah-Banin, A.A.; Amoakohene, M.I.Consumers' complex media consumption habits mean that advertising must, of necessity, be multi-platform to boost reach and engagement levels. Several benefits of multi-platform advertising have been highlighted in the literature. However, it is unclear whether there are any inherent challenges. Particularly in developing African economies such as Ghana where firms face resource constraints, advertisers cannot afford to miss the mark with the advertising spend. As such, practitioners must carefully off-set any dangers of multi-platform advertising. Given the subject's absence in the literature, there is little scholarly guideline with which to do this. This chapter contributes insights into the issue by asking the questions: (1) are there negative consequences to multi-platform advertising and (2) how may practitioners counter such? Then, using Ghana as empirical setting and exploratory interviews as primary method, the chapter engages the experiences of advertisers, advertising practitioners and audiences to gain a holistic view of the challenges of multi-platform advertising.Item Focus Group Research: Towards an Applicable Model for Africa(Topical Issues in Communications and Media Research, New York: Nova Science Publishers, 2005-01) Amoakohene, M.I.Over the last two decades, African communication scholars, educationists and researchers have realised there exist “certain limitations of the western social research methods when used in the rural areas of Africa” (Obeng-Quaidoo, 1985, p. 109). It has been observed that many of the concepts and models learnt during postgraduate study in developed countries are sometimes not workable in developing countries due to problems of illiteracy, poverty and complex social structures. Limitations manifest when Western notions of social science research are used in much of Africa and other parts of the developing world, especially in rural areas, due to their peculiarities, which distinguish them from developed environments (Obeng-Quaidoo, 1983;1 Maynard-Tucker, 2000; Vissandjée, Abdool, & Dupéré, 2002; Winslow, Honein, & Elzubeir, 2002; Laverack & Brown, 2003;). Obeng-Quaidoo (1985) observes that even though “science is universal and transferable, the methodologies and technologies for obtaining scientific knowledge are not universal” (p. 110). He argues that discussions of “methodological innovations” should be situated within specific “cultural imperatives” (p. 110). Halloran (2002)2 argues in support of situating media studies in local environments because news processes (gathering, processing and dissemination or sharing) are impinged upon by many factors, some of which are political, sociological, cultural and economic. Similarly, social science research is impinged upon by the environment in which it is conducted. The “choice of research problems and of what methodological approach is used to study these problems,” is usually influenced by social and political factors (Priest, 1996, p. 5)Item In Search of an Education and Professionalism Nexus in Public Relations Practice in Ghana. In Ansu-Kyeremeh,(University of Ghana Readers, Social Sciences Series, 2015) Amoakohene, M.I.The search for a nexus between public relations education and professionalism forms the basis of this chapter which assumes that the more education becomes widely available and accessible to public relations practitioners, the greater the level of professionalism injected into the practice. It tracks changes, including developments in public relations education, practitioner roles and functions. It examines professionalism as determined by higher educational qualifications of practitioners, more managerial roles and functions, greater recognition and appreciation of the profession and greater confidence and preparedness of practitioners to perform management functions. The chapter assesses the backgrounds and profiles of public relations training institutions in Ghana, and examines how they could be contributing to improved public relations Gieber and Johnson's (1961) three-role typology: neither characterised as negotiations/mutual exchanges nor manipulation but as a relationship of mutual mistrust and suspicionItem Information management: The nemesis of Ghanaian governments(Ghana Social Science Journal, 2011-01) Amoakohene, M.I.The challenge of effective management and dissemination of information has been a colonial legacy bequeathed to post-independence governments. Under Ghana’s current constitutional representative democracy, communication is neither monopolistic nor hegemonic but two-way, with feedback considered paramount. The requirements of accountability, transparency and participation in democratic governance underscore the importance of information flow from governments and feedback from the public. Tracking ministerial reshuffles and two incidents in 2009, the paper demonstrates that the Information Ministry bears the brunt of such changes with ministers blamed for poor government information management. The article examines the educational and professional backgrounds of Ministers of Information arguing that government information management is neither journalism nor job- for-whomsoever. It is professional public relations work and appointments should reflect this fact.Item Intimate Partner Violence Impacts University Students in Ghana(Athens Journal of Social Sciences, 2019) Amoakohene, M.I.; Smith, M.; Tietaah, G.K.M.Intimate partner violence cuts across cultures and types of relationships. While the phenomenon has received considerable academic attention in many contexts, few scholarly works exist in Ghana. This research project was limited to tertiary level students at Ghana’s premier university. The study, using open-ended qualitative questions, examined the phenomenon from a multidimensional perspective as it affects both male and female in dating relationships. Additionally, the study attempts to fill a gap in the literature by examining abuse in relationships between largely unmarried intimate partners in a university. It also pushes beyond the academic realm and offers a guide for practice, by establishing a public relations campaign targeted to the university students. Researchers investigated the scope and types of intimate partner violence among students in dating relationships, students described experiencing physical and emotional abuse, citing reasons for continuing non-healthy relationships. This study seeks to understand why university-educated victims remain in abusive relationships.Item Intimate Partner Violence Impacts University Students in Ghana(Athens Journal of Social Sciences, 2019) Amoakohene, M.I.; Smith, M.; Tietaah, G.K.M.Intimate partner violence cuts across cultures and types of relationships. While the phenomenon has received considerable academic attention in many contexts, few scholarly works exist in Ghana. This research project was limited to tertiary level students at Ghana’s premier university. The study, using open-ended qualitative questions, examined the phenomenon from a multidimensional perspective as it affects both male and female in dating relationships. Additionally, the study attempts to fill a gap in the literature by examining abuse in relationships between largely unmarried intimate partners in a university. It also pushes beyond the academic realm and offers a guide for practice, by establishing a public relations campaign targeted to the university students. Researchers investigated the scope and types of intimate partner violence among students in dating relationships, students described experiencing physical and emotional abuse, citing reasons for continuing non-healthy relationships. This study seeks to understand why university-educated victims remain in abusive relationships.Item La stabilité démocratique: Une solution pour la consolidation de la paix en Afrique de l’ouest – Le cas du Ghana. (Democratic Stability as a Necessity for Peace Consolidation in West Africa: Ghana’s Experience)(Gorée Institute, 2015) Amoakohene, M.I.The political evolution of Ghana adequately shows a direct link between democratic stability and the consolidation of peace. Frequent coups d’état in Ghana corresponded with a period of authoritarianism of military regimes. Over the past twenty years in Ghana, democratization has made it possible to observe a real consolidation of peace. The press has played an important role in this process by closely monitoring public officials, public expenditures and human rights issues in an environment that has progressed from various forms of state control and extreme centralization of the media to liberalization and a pluralistic system characterized by high degrees of media freedom. Ghana’s example shows that there is virtually no viable alternative to democracy having experimented with both one-party and military dictatorial rule. A strengthened constitution could address important structural weaknesses in Ghana’s political system and enhance its democratic tradition and culture.Multiple, independent and diverse media, an independent judiciary, vibrant civil society, free and transparent elections, respect for human rights, rule of law, transparency and accountability, inclusiveness and participation of the citizenry in national discourse provide healthy pointers.The consensual electoral system constitutes one of the foundations of democratic stability.Item Media Discourse of President Barack Obama in Sub-Saharan Africa(PETER LANG, 2014-01) Sikanku, G.E.; Amoakohene, M.I.This study examined how African (The Daily Graphic, The Daily Nation, AllAfrica.com) and non-African news media (The Times, The New York Times, Associated Press) covered Barack Obama’s first visit to sub-Saharan Africa (Ghana). A content analysis of 163 stories found five major themes embedded in media reportage of America’s first black president’s visit to the continent of his father. This includes: globalization, democracy, responsibility, historical and soft news narratives. Even though coverage was neutral across board, the African newspapers concentrated more on the historical and soft news frames while non-African newspapers reported heavily on the democracy and responsibility frame.Item Political Communication in Ghana’s Emerging Democracy. Saarbrücken, Germany(LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing, 2012-10) Amoakohene, M.I.This book studies newspaper coverage of two governments in Ghana's Fourth Republic investigating whether and how differences between two opposing political administrations' media relations affect the quality and amount of political news coverage. It demonstrates the extent to which media restriction of one political regime and openness of another affect media activity and content looking at four main factors: nature and level of reporting, influence of incumbency factor, freedom of expression, and relationship between government and media. It reports that coverage suggests systematic bias and concentrates less on key political actors than on their political parties. Furthermore, "journalistic newsgathering" exceeds "information subsidies" as there is minimal use of official news sources to prove that relations between Ghanaian political news sources and reporters do not constitute cardinal determinants of political news. Such relations, the book explains, fit into the separate source-reporter role option of Gieber and Johnson's (1961) three-role typology: neither characterised as negotiations/mutual exchanges nor manipulation but as a relationship of mutual mistrust and suspicion.Item Radio Audiences in an Emerging Pluralistic Media Environment: A Case for the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) Method(African Media Review, 2004) Amoakohene, M.I.The central thesis of this article is that the focus group discussion method of the qualitative research methodology has huge and largely unexploited potentials for use as a tool for audience research in a new democracy with a newly liberated media environment. It argues that the use of the method by Paul Lazarsfeld, Robert Merton and their colleagues at the Bureau of Applied Social Research at Columbia University to gauge audience responses and reactions to propaganda and radio broadcasts set the pace for its use in audience research. Through extensive use in, and adaptations to, different research environments, focus groups have demonstrated an ability to function as fully-fledged methods of data collection. The article examines literature on the history, development, and use of focus groups in many fields of study including media and communication to show that the method has advantages for audience research in a competitive media market. Through this perspective, and with reference to a number of studies carried out by the author in Ghana using this method, it recognises focus group research as an appropriate method for researching media, especially radio, audiences and recommends it to media owners.Item Researching Radio Audiences in an Emerging Pluralistic Media Environment: A Case for the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) Method(Africa Media Review, 2004) Amoakohene, M.I.The central thesis of this article is that the focus group discussion method of the qualitative research methodology has huge and largely unexploited potentials for use as a tool for audience research in a new democracy with a newly liberated media environment. It argues that the use of the method by Paul Lazarsfeld, Robert Merton and their colleagues at the Bureau of Applied Social Research at Columbia University to gauge audience responses and reactions to propaganda and radio broadcasts set the pace for its use in audience research. Through extensive use in, and adaptations to, different research environments, focus groups have demonstrated an ability to function as fully-fledged methods of data collection. The article examines literature on the history, development, and use of focus groups in many fields of study including media and communication to show that the method has advantages for audience research in a competitive media market. Through this perspective, and with reference to a number of studies carried out by the author in Ghana using this method, it recognises focus group research as an appropriate method for researching media, especially radio, audiences and recommends it to media owners.Item The use of Facebook in the 2012 Presidential Campaigns: A Content Analysis of John Dramani Mahama and Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo’s Official Pages(University of Ghana, 2015-03) Fordjour, N.K.O.; Amoakohene, M.I.; University of Ghana, College of Education, School of Information and Communication Studies, Department of Communication StudiesThis study is a quantitative content analysis of the textual Facebook wall posts of John Dramani Mahama and Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo, during the 2012 election campaign. The principal goal of the research was to determine whether the Facebook wall posts of both candidates fell under the functions, topics and sub topics of political campaign discourse. A sample of textual posts from the 1st of August to the 6th of December 2012, were analysed for this study. Using the functional theory of political campaign discourse as the bases for the analysis of candidates‟ Facebook posts. The posts focused mainly on acclaims (84%) followed by attacks (15%). Defences (1%) were rarely employed and only used by John Dramani Mahama. Candidates‟ posts focused mostly on policy (45%), followed by character (55%), when it came to topics. When they addressed policy, the candidates discussed general goals (39%) in a similar proportion like future plans (38%), and past deeds (23%) were the least discussed policy sub-category. In talking about character, candidates‟ Facebook postswere mostly on ideals (45%), followed by leadership ability (37%) and personal qualities (18%) as the least of character sub topics discussed. Data for this study confirmed three hypotheses, after subjectingdatathrough the chi-square goodness-of-fit test.Item Violence against women in Ghana: a look at women's perceptions and review of policy and social responses(Social Science & Medicine, 2004) Amoakohene, M.I.This study examines violence against women in Ghana and how it affects and is perceived by them. It looks at violence as experienced by Ghanaian women of varying ages, socio-economic status and professional standing. It defines domestic violence as violence intentionally perpetrated by husbands or male partners-people known to be intimate associates. Domestic violence is approached from a multidimensional perspective by examining the multiple facets of violence against women: sexual, socio-economic. cultural, pseudo-religious and mental torture. Women's perceptions of their rights, responsibilities, duties and abuses or violations are evaluated using open-endedqualitative questions in two major cities in Ghana: Accra and Kurnasi, Policy responses to domestic violence are then examined by first reviewing what provisions exist in the country's constitution to address the problem and then the specific steps the government itself has taken. Civil society's response in the form of activities by non-governmental organizations is also reviewed. Finally, the effects of domestic violence on women's health and well-being are examined and suggestions for addressing the problem are made. 9 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Item Violence against Women in Ghana: A look at Women’s Perceptions and Review of Policy and Social Responses(Social Science & Medicine, 2004-12) Amoakohene, M.I.This study examines violence against women in Ghana and how it affects and is perceived by them. It looks at violence as experienced by Ghanaian women of varying ages, socio-economic status and professional standing. It defines domestic violence as violence intentionally perpetrated by husbands or male partners--people known to be intimate associates. Domestic violence is approached from a multidimensional perspective by examining the multiple facets of violence against women: sexual, socio-economic, cultural, pseudo-religious and mental torture. Women's perceptions of their rights, responsibilities, duties and abuses or violations are evaluated using open-ended qualitative questions in two major cities in Ghana: Accra and Kumasi. Policy responses to domestic violence are then examined by first reviewing what provisions exist in the country's constitution to address the problem and then the specific steps the government itself has taken. Civil society's response in the form of activities by non-governmental organizations is also reviewed. Finally, the effects of domestic violence on women's health and well-being are examined and suggestions for addressing the problem are made.