A Chink in the Charm? A Framing Analysis of Coverage of Chinese Aid in the Ghanaian Media
Loading...
Date
2019
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
African Journalism Studies
Abstract
Much recent scholarship focuses on China’s growing global
influence. Of note is China’s recent charm offensive on Africa
through the soft power of aid and trade. With development
assistance being key to asserting global influence, it would seem
that by pursuing a no-strings-attached approach to aid, China has
propositioned itself to Africans as a benevolent development
partner. Yet China’s business activities in Africa may represent a
chink in its image. In Ghana, there is a palpable Chinese presence
in nearly every facet of life (including energy, construction and
trade). Across these spheres, Chinese elements are the object of
criticism. For instance, their involvement in illegal mining
(“galamsey”) is blamed for the degradation of lands and pollution
of water bodies. The question evoked by these cross-purposes of
aid and trade is: how is China’s influence in Ghana reflected in its
image as a development partner? We argue that the media is key
to answering this question, given that they reflect and affect the
opinions of citizens on national interest issues. The study thus
explores how the local Ghanaian media frame “China in Ghana” to
their audience as a means to shape local opinions and discourses
on the matter.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
media framing, country image, China–Ghana relations