Political economy of communication among selected market traders’ associations in the kejetia city market

Abstract

This study examined the political economy of communication among selected Market Traders’ Associations in the Kejetia City Market. Drawing on the media richness theory, the political economy theory and the concept of direction of communication flow, the case study examined the communication channels and patterns of the Market Traders’ Associations. It also analysed the power relations embedded in the communication patterns of the Market Traders’ Associations. Observations and interviews were employed as the data collection methods. The data gathered were thematically analysed. The study found that the channels of communication among the Market Traders’ Associations were WhatsApp, Face-to-Face Meeting, Letters, Telephone Conversation, Gong, and Grapevine. The study revealed that these channels were used because they were convenient at the time. They were able to send and receive information, and also able to curb the spread of the corona virus. These channels were also considered as being much swifter in sending and receiving information than other channels. The study also revealed that the patterns of communication employed in the groups under study were Downward Communication, Upward Communication, Horizontal Communication, and Diagonal Communication. The study showed that the power relations embedded in the communication patterns of the Market Traders’ Associations were Lobbying, Building Relationship with Authority, and Strategic Manipulation. It concludes that owing to the fact that resources were not fairly available in the market and were limited in supply, a lot of times traders had to compete for the allocation or distribution sometimes and did certain things to get access to the fewer resources that were available.