Oral Testimony Radio Project

Between December 2001 and May 2003, Panos conducted several training workshops in Ghana (Ada) and Sierra Leone (Bo). Those workshops involved 13 producers from community radio stations in Ghana and 7 producers from independent private stations in Sierra Leone. Following the workshop, 6 of the stations (Radio Ada, Radio Peace and Radio Progress in Ghana; Radio Skyy FM, Radio Kiss FM and Radio Democracy in Sierra Leone) developed, produced, and broadcasted oral testimony radio documentary programmes during a period of 18 months. The documentaries were to be on the general theme of Peace, Democracy and Citizenship, with a special focus on traditional conflict resolution for Ghana and reconciliation for Sierra Leone.

OT interviews are long and extensive discussions on one specific topic. Although there may well be a broad issue or theme (for instance, Conflict Resolution) that the interviewer tries to cover, every interview will be different, as it is mainly the narrator, rather than the interviewer, who influences the shape and content of the interview.

The methodology of OT radio reporting is based on a specific interview method using the "Oral Testimonies" of the local population in their original languages. Local and rural community radio stations generally broadcast in these languages; as a result, interpretation and communication problems are not foreseen. OT focuses on "hidden" voices, contexts and content. These are exactly the same areas of emphasis that community radio stations aim at. Therefore, the application of OT in community radio programme production is seen as particularly appropriate. Unlike the normal and familiar character featured on air, the listener learns that the speakers or narrators are ordinary folk. The strategy here involves countering the notion that these people's ideas, wisdom, and concerns are unrecognised and therefore of no consequence on the development process.

Conflict, Peace, Reconciliation, Democracy and Governance, Community Radio Development.

Organisers claim that radio is the most popular, pervasive, and affordable means of communication in developing countries like Ghana and Sierra Leone, where lack of basic infrastructure and illiteracy are common, and where funds to produce and distribute media materials for development are in very short supply.

For both countries, new series were intended for 2003 and 2004. Future productions planned to treat different topics that relate the aspiration and hope of ordinary citizens. The persons' testimonies were planned to focus on reconciliation issues with a positive view towards the future: what are the hopes of Sierra Leoneans now that peace has been successfully restored in the country? How do people deal - on a day to day basis - with issues like forgiveness, amnesty, integration of ex-combatants? All programmess intend to highlight positive integration aspects, like respect for diversity (ethnic, social, sexual, linguistic), and thus contribute toward the building of a culture of peace and tolerance in Ghana and Sierra Leone.