Ghanaians Trust Radio More - Survey Shows

Accra (GAR), July 3, State-run radio stations seem to be the most reliable source of information for majority of Ghanaians, a survey by the International Foundation of Electoral Systems (IFES), has shown. The survey, conducted between February and April 1997, of a sample of 2,300 people nation-wide, shows that 33 per cent of respondents see local public radio as the most accurate source of information. Twenty-three per cent of the respondents said they believe more in television, with 16 per cent opting for word-of-mouth information. Six per cent said they believe what the newspapers say, as against four per cent for local private radio stations. The survey listed nine per cent of respondents as saying they do not know which medium to believe more. Dr. Chris MaCarty, Director of Economic Research at the University of Florida who coordinated the survey, told GRi that the poll has a margin of error of between two and seven per cent. The question asked was: "In general, which source of information tends to be the most accurate?" The survey showed that radio was the most effective means of soliciting votes during the last elections. Twenty-seven per cent of the respondents nation-wide said radio was most useful source to them in deciding who to vote for during the elections. Television followed with 23 per cent, 17 per cent saw candidate rallies as the most useful source with 14 per cent making their decisions on the basis of what family and friends told them. Posters and fliers made up seven per cent of the poll, newspapers, four per cent and mobile vans two per cent. Apart from Greater-Accra, Ashanti and Northern regions where television was the most important deciding factor, radio was the most efficient medium in all the other regions except the Volta Region where the people depended more on what family and friends told them. Television was the deciding factor 45 per cent of the people in Greater-Accra, 31 per cent in Ashanti, and 22 per cent in the Northern Region. Radio topped with 39 per cent in Brong Ahafo, 20 per cent in Central, and 31 per cent in the Eastern Regions. In the Upper-East, Upper-West, and Western Regions radio was the leading medium with 19 per cent, 36 per cent and 30 per cent respectively. In the Volta Region, the most effective medium was what was passed on by family and friends. It made the decision for 33 per cent of the people, the survey said.