CHAPTER EIGHT

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION

8.1 Introduction
In this era of modernization, information and communication play a vital l role in our businesses
and firms of all sizes. This chapter shows and discusses the ownership of mobile phone and
internet facility usage of persons in Duampompo. This also provides data in a form of
communication such as television, radio and information centers.

8.2 Ownership and Access to Mobile Phones

The figure below shows the number of phone users in the community. The figure indicates that
out of the total of 90 household heads, 78.7% have mobile phones and the same percentage of
persons have access to mobile network. 21.3% of household heads do not have access to mobile
phones or mobile services. Mobile network available in the community are Vodafone, MTN,
Airtel Tigo. Vodafone is the most reliable network in the community of which majority of them
are using.

Table 8.1: Ownership of Mobile Phones

Mobile Phone Ownership Percentage

Yes 78.7

No 21.3

Source: Field Survey, Duampompo, 2021

Table 8.2: Access to Mobile Services

Access to Mobile Services Percentage

Accessible 78.7

Not accessible 21.3

Source: Field Survey, Duampompo, 2021

Implications

Extensive use of mobile phone in the community, can promote mobile banking and will reduce
the risk of people saving money under their beds, pillows, bags and in their rooms.

In addition, this helps to make transaction much easier which saves time and cost involved in
traveling to make transfers or transact business.
Furthermore, the use of mobile phone has given good opportunities to farmers to directly
communicate with buyers and traders to Sell their farm product in a good price. Due to this,
farmer can now call buyers of their farm produce such as plantain, cocoa, tomatoes, maize etc.
any time they are ready to sell to be market the study recommends that the use of mobile money
service in Ghana should be encourage.

8.3 Internet
Ghana in August 1995 became the next African country to have full Internet connectivity in sub-
Saharan Africa, since then mobile phone has facilitated the use of internet. Internet accessibility
is paramount for socio-economic development in any shape or form. 47.1% of a 16.7 million
Ghanaians uses mobile phones in Ghana. Out of this total, 14.76 million have access to internet
(as of January 2020). In the Ashanti Region, out of a population of 3,312,0233 people aged 12
years and older, only 56.1% used mobile phone and 8.9% of this total have access to the internet.
The story is not different in the municipality. In the Ejisu-Juaben Municipality, 97,013 people
aged 12 years and older use mobile phones out of which 5.8% have access to internet facility. In
Duampompo, out of a total of 90 household heads interviewed, only 6.4% have access to
internet. The usage or access to internet facility at the national, regional, municipal and the
community is very low. Only a hand full of Ghanaians have access to internet facility. This
however does not order well for growth.

The total below provides information on internet accessibility at national, regional, municipal
and Duampompo.

Table 8.3: Internet Accessibility at National, Regional, Municipal and Duampompo

Total of mobile Percentage of Mobile Percentage of Internet
phone users phone Users Users

National 14,742,289 47.1 10.7

Regional 3,312,0233 56.1 8.9

Municipal 97,013 52.2 5.8

Duampompo 90 78.7 6.4

Source: Field Survey, Duampompo, 2021

Implications

The use of internet among Ghanaians is very low especially for those in Rural areas. This has the
following implications on online marketing of goods to attract customers from all parts of the
country which is low. Academic studies have that broadband access led to more new businesses
in rural areas, and that high level of broadband adoption were associated with increased median
household incomes and lower unemployment level for rural residents.

8.4 Radio and Television

Table 8.4: Television accessibility
Television Percentage

Accessibility 77

Not accessibility 23

Source: Field Survey, Duampompo, 2021

Table 8.5: Radio accessibility

Radio Percentage

Accessibility 92.1

Not accessibility 7.9

Source: Field Survey, Duampompo, 2021

Access to radio and television in Duampompo is very high. A total of 77% of household have
access to television and 92.1% have access to radio. Hence residents are able to know things
happening around them.

Implications

The farmers gain real-time access to vital information such as crop prices or weather forecasts,
and marketing opportunities through high-speed networks, also effective means of mass
communication, the media can provide news to people throughout the country including rural
areas. With the access of internet, the people in the communities will be aware of the
programmes and policies of the government.
 CHAPTER NINE
SECURITY AND GOVERNANCE
9.1 Introduction
Governance is the process whereby elements in society wield power and authority, and decision
concerning public life, economic and social development. Governance can be look social,
political and economic perspective indeed, good governance is pivotal to the development
process. Governance help to shape lifestyles within the given geographical area. This chapter
focuses on the governance structure and the security of the people of Duampompo.

9.2 Involvement in Decision Making.

The local government act 936 enjoins community participation in the decision-making process.
Involving the community to participate in decision making enables different views and help
improve relationship in the community.

Decision making help the community members to accept the outcome of their decision. From the
figure below, 95.1% of the population are involved in the decision-making process in the
community 4.9% of the community, say they are not involved in the decision-making process of
the community. This is not because community has not involved them, but because they say time
for such meeting doesn’t favor their schedules out of the 95.1% who are involved in the
decision-making process, 79.6% claim they are involved through information giving and 20.4%
are involved through participation.

Are you Informed? Percentage

Yes 95.1
No 4.9
Total 100
Table 9.1: Are you informed before decision is taken?
Source: Field Survey, October, 2021
9.2.1 How people are informed
Method Percentage

Information giving 79.6

Participation 20.4

Table 9.2: How people are informed

Implication
It helps the community make better decisions, also majority of the community are involved in the
decision-making process so it will make the resident accept and appreciate the outcomes of
decisions.

In addition, results of decisions in terms of projects will be owned by the community. This is
because they feel they have been involved in the process.

However, this can slow down the decision-making process as time will be spent in the
consultation. This can affect project time spend and increase project lost.

9.2.2 Women Involvement in Decision Making

Women play key roles in nation building and hence the importance of involving them in the
decision-making process. Their participation is fundamental to democratic governance, 85.3% of
women in Duampompo. are involved in the decision-making process of the community whilst
14.7% of women say they are not involved in the decision-making process of the community.
Majority of the women who are involved in the decision-making process are mostly women who
can household heads in Duampompo.. The figure below provides information of the level of
involvement of women is the decision-making process.

Table 9.3: Women Involvement in Decision Making

Yes 85.3
No 14.7
Implication
Projects such as toilet facilities, markets, borehole water etc. mostly have the view of women.
This help prevent the misunderstanding between women and elders in the community, it makes
women accept the project and stop them from abandon of projects because it doesn’t meet their
expectations.