Final answer:
During Ghana's military regime, the media was deeply polarized, with state-sponsored media portraying the government positively and private media criticizing the regime's corruption and repression. Despite initial suppression, private media reemerged in the 1990s with democratization, often facing hostility and restrictions. Radio served as a key platform for public discourse and shaped everyday life in Ghana.
Step-by-step explanation:
The media environment in Ghana during the military regime was marked by a stark division between state-sponsored newspapers and the private press. The media's role in the great wave of democratization during the 1990s was complex and multifaceted. While state newspapers often presented a positive image of government actions, emphasizing economic development and themes of national cohesion, private newspapers were critical of the government, frequently spotlighting allegations of corruption.
Under the repressive military regime led by Jerry Rawlings in the 1980s, private media were banned and deemed enemies of the state. In the 1990s, as democratization began, the private media was resurrected, but journalists continued to face hostility and a lack of access to government sources. They often had to rely on rumors and unnamed sources due to government officials' reluctance to speak with them, painting a picture of the state as corrupt and oppressive.
Moreover, radio played a critical role in Ghanaian society as a pervasive medium of news and public discussion. Despite the initial suppression of free speech and media under the military coups, over time, Ghanaian media began to reflect the contentious public sphere, with state and private outlets providing competing ideologies and versions of political realities.