Media and The Struggle for Democracy in Africa

Abstract

For several years in the African continent, a significant part of the continent's history was under various military regimes. Till recently, when most African countries transitioned from military dictatorship and autocracy to civil rule or democratic rule; deliberate and concerted efforts have been made by Africans and the mass media towards sustaining, consolidating and nurturing Africa's democracy. As crucial as the mass media is in all spheres of life vis-à-vis democratic processes, not much attention has been paid to the role and efforts the mass media has played and are still playing in sustaining democracy in Africa. This paper anchored on the Democratic Participant Theory, x-rays the role of the Mass media in the entrenchment and sustenance of democracy in Africa. It concludes that the sustainability of democracy in Africa depends on a free media, good governance, transparency and accountability in governance. It further recommends that the mass media should educate the electorates during elections against selling their votes to “Ghana Must Go” or bag politicians and to encourage free and fair elections in order to ensure that only credible politicians get elected into positions in Africa.