Futures of Learning

The reality of the digital divide in all its forms so dominates the landscape in Africa that the majority of scholarship on digital technologies in this region tends to focus on issues of national policy and access. Only recently have researchers on Ghana began to branch into explorations of usage trends. In this literature review I have attempted to pull together the work of these researchers. The existing evidence tells a very limited story about patterns of digital media use in Ghana. This story is largely based in southern Ghana (if not just the capital city, Accra), and on a limited variety of user behaviors in internet cafes and on mobile phones. In particular there is a dearth of data on new media production and gaming activity. There is of course other activity going on, particularly ICT for development efforts led by non-governmental organizations - these have not been the focus of my analysis (although in most cases these are new initiatives that are yet to exhibit results, or older ones whose current status is unclear).

Such as it is, a few themes are evident in the literature - the association of the internet with the potential for quick economic gains, leading to varying degrees of criminal or unethical behavior; the emergence of “smart consumption” practices to mitigate the high cost of mobile phone communication; and what appears to be a clear separation of expectations and approaches to internet and telephone communication. The internet points users outwards, to potentially greener pastures in advanced economies, while telephones ground users in their local context, keeping them linked to social and economic resources that are more readily accessible. Perhaps the one commonality is that both vehicles are in practice communication more so than information-seeking tools. Arguably, it will take overcoming affordability barriers; a critical mass of locally relevant content; as well as a shift in the sense of hopelessness, especially amongst the youth, to nurture different patterns of use.

This is the last in our series of posts on new digital media practices. I hope you have enjoyed our excursions to China, Korea, India, Brazil, Japan and Ghana, demonstrating the unique characteristics of digital media user behaviors in very different socio-cultural contexts.