Visualizing Empowerment: The Role of Feminist Community Radio in Northern Ghana's Agrarian Reforms

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies | Vol. 11, No. 9, August 2026 | pp. 97–104

DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/001260

Article Type: Original Research Article

Title: Visualizing Empowerment: The Role of Feminist Community Radio in Northern Ghana's Agrarian Reforms

Names of Authors: Dr. Fuseini M. Abdul-Rahman¹, Dr. Amina L. Alhassan¹

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Communication, Innovation and Technology, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana

Abstract:
This study assesses the role of feminist community radio stations in advancing agrarian reforms and enhancing the socioeconomic agency of rural female farmers in Northern Ghana. Over a 24-month period, we monitored and analyzed the programming of three community radio stations that broadcast local-language gender equality content, using a quasi-experimental design involving 400 female agriculturalists (200 regular listeners and 200 non-listeners). The statistical analysis indicates that regular listeners achieved a 52% higher rate of participation in local land governance committees compared to non-listeners (p < 0.01). The radio programs, structured around interactive phone-in sessions and serial radio dramas, successfully demystified complex statutory land registry processes and educated women on their legal rights under the Land Act of Ghana. Qualitative focus groups revealed that the broadcasts provided women with the vocabulary and collective confidence required to negotiate fair crop-sharing arrangements with traditional landlords. However, the study identifies technical and structural challenges, including poor transmission ranges in remote villages, retaliatory power cuts by local political actors, and a lack of sustainable funding for female broadcasters. The paper argues that community radio serves as a transformative pedagogical tool for rural structural change. It recommends state-subsidized licensing fees for feminist media, capacity-building workshops for local language producers, and the integration of radio platforms with mobile agricultural extension systems.

Keywords: Community Radio, Feminist Media, Agrarian Reform, Female Farmers, Land Governance, Ghana

Manuscript Timeline: Received: February 10, 2026; Revised: May 02, 2026; Accepted: June 11, 2026; Published: August 30, 2026.

Citation: Abdul-Rahman, F. M., & Alhassan, A. L. (2026). Visualizing Empowerment: The Role of Feminist Community Radio in Northern Ghana's Agrarian Reforms. African Journal of Gender and Women Studies, 11(9), 97–104. DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/001260

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