The role of indigenous communication systems for rural development in the tolon district of Ghana

This study explores the role of Indigenous Communication Systems (ICSs) in the Tolon District of Ghana, and how they are used as sites for cultural constructions, and platforms for propagating information for rural development.The study adopts social constructivism epistemological worldview and qualitative content analysis to interpret participants' perspectives on the role of ICSs as sites for cultural constructions and propagating information for rural development in the Tolon District of Ghana. The study revealed that ICSs such as storytelling, drumming, the town crier, provide an avenue for the indigenous people to disseminate important information to rural communities in a language the local people are familiar with, understand, and as well inculcate good ethical and moral values to the up-coming generation. Considering this, the study recommends that ICSs should be refined and maintained to promote indigenous knowledge communication. Finally, the study uncovered that indigenous people hybridized or synchronized indigenous communication systems with new media technologies to enhance information dissemination in the rural communities. Therefore, the study suggests that rural communities could integrate both western communication technologies and traditional media forms to promote participatory media content creation and effective information dissemination in the rural communities for effective development.