• Login
    View Item 
    •   OpenDocs Home
    • Institute of Development Studies Research Repository
    • IDS PhD Research
    • IDS PhD Theses
    • View Item
    •   OpenDocs Home
    • Institute of Development Studies Research Repository
    • IDS PhD Research
    • IDS PhD Theses
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Citizen voice and bureaucratic responsiveness: FM radio phone-ins and the delivery of municipal and local government services in Accra, Ghana

    Thumbnail
    Date
    2013
    Author
    Selormey, Ernestina Edem
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Impact
    Abstract
    There is a large body of work in actual practice, and in academia on citizen voice and voice mechanisms. Since the introduction of the concept, and its application to various sectors, contexts and countries, there have been several arguments in support of its effectiveness as a mechanism for holding governments and public officials to account; or ensuring that the voices of the poor and marginalised are heard. Some have also argued that voice is a good measure of inclusiveness, and for improvements in service delivery at the local level. However, there have also been arguments that, in as much as voice as a mechanism is good, it has limitations. The limitations arise from the fact that voice alone, cannot produce the desired effect---response or improvements in service delivery. Thus, for voice to be effective, it must be ‘heard.’ This thesis is about the extent to which public voice expressed through radio phone-in programmes can influence the responsiveness of public service delivery organisations at the local level. The study is an empirical enquiry into a new form of voice mechanism, which occurs on radio in Accra, Ghana. The study specifically looks at two unique radio phone-in programmes on two popular Accra-based private commercial FM radio stations. The two programmes provide a weekly on-air platform for residents of Accra and those within transmission range to call in live and lodge complaints about public and/or private services for follow-up and redress. The main argument of this thesis is that voice mediated through specific radio programmes, not only has the potential to go far; it also has potential to be ‘heard’ due to follow-up, creative programming and some key characteristics of the programmes. The thesis utilizes the new concept of ‘mediated voice’ to understand how radio complaints about waste management (a service provided by the Accra Metropolitan Authority, the local government for Accra) can elicit responses from the service providers. The main findings in this study are that radio phone-in programmes have the ability to receive individual voice and represent them as though it were a collective problem. This ability ensures that voice is heard. Second, that because of the publicness of the ‘voice’ on radio, and subsequent follow-up on complaints by the radio programmes, public officials are forced to respond for fear of both administrative and electoral sanctions.
    URI
    https://opendocs.ids.ac.uk/opendocs/handle/20.500.12413/4353
    Citation
    Selormey, Ernestina Edem (2013) Citizen voice and bureaucratic responsiveness: FM radio phone-ins and the delivery of municipal and local government services in Accra, Ghana. Doctoral thesis, Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex.
    More details
    http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/46446/
    Library catalogue entry
    http://bldscat.ids.ac.uk/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=228394
    Rights holder
    The author
    Rights details
    http://www.ids.ac.uk/files/dmfile/IDSOpenDocsStandardTermsOfUse.pdf
    Collections
    • IDS PhD Theses [61]

    About OpenDocs | OpenDocs Policy | Help | Contact Us | Send Feedback | Disclaimer and Cookies
     

     

    Browse

    All of OpenDocsCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjects

    My Account

    LoginRegister

    Statistics

    Most Popular ItemsStatistics by CountryMost Popular Authors

    About OpenDocs | OpenDocs Policy | Help | Contact Us | Send Feedback | Disclaimer and Cookies