POLI 232 Notes

POLI 232: Politics in Ghana II

Instructor: Ebenezer Teye Amanor-Lartey (PhD)
Collaborator: Gilbert Arhinful Aidoo
Contact: etalartey@uew.edu.gh

Website: www

INTRODUCTION

  • Course Purpose:
    • Focus on Ghana’s pursuit of democracy since 1992.
    • Examine the transition process and factors leading to democratic experimentation.
    • Analyze the 1992 Constitution and its significant features.
    • Discuss the role of political institutions (e.g., arms of state, Electoral Commission, CHRAJ) in consolidating the Fourth Republic.

- Evaluate the contribution of media and civil society toward democracy.

OBJECTIVES

  • Understanding Provisions:
    • Comprehend crucial elements of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
  • Overview of Democratic Experience:
    • Review Ghana’s democratic progression since 1992.
  • Critical Analysis:

- Analyze the roles of various state and non-state institutions (e.g., Electoral Commission, Political Parties, Media, Civil society) in strengthening democracy within the Fourth Republic.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

  • Attend lectures regularly and punctually.
  • Engage actively in presentations, assignments, quizzes, and finals.

- Locate and read required and supplementary materials relevant to the course.

ASSESSMENT

  • Distribution of Marks:
    • Assignment: 20%
    • Quiz: 20%

- End of Semester Examination: 60%

LESSON 1: Democracy in Ghana

OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION

  • Definitions and Concepts of Democracy
  • Overview of Ghana’s Democratic Experiments Since Independence
  • Development and Resurgence of Democracy: The Third Wave
  • The Globalization of Democracy

- The Republican System

WHAT IS DEMOCRACY?

  • Introduction to Discussion:

- Engage in a 15-minute class discussion.

MEANING OF DEMOCRACY

  • Diversity in Definition:
    • The term "democracy" holds various meanings for different people.
  • Bernard Crick (1991) states:
    • “Democracy is perhaps the most promiscuous word in the world of public affairs” (p. 56).
  • Key Indicators to Define Democracy:
    • A system of government.
    • Authority derived from the people:
    • “[W]hat constitutes democracy ultimately is the expression of the [sovereign] will of the people” (Frempong, 2012, p. 7).

- Accountability of rulers.

OVERVIEW OF DEMOCRACY IN GHANA

  • Historical Timeline:
    • 1957-1966: First Republic, Kwame Nkrumah’s leadership.
    • 1969-1972: Second Republic, aspects of democratic governance.
    • 1979-1981: Short-lived Third Republic.

- 1993-Present: Fourth Republic, current democratic governance structure.

THE THIRD WAVE OF DEMOCRACY

  • Samuel P. Huntington (1991) Framework:
    • Identified global democracy patterns as waves & reverses.
    • First Wave (1820s-1926):
    • Initiated with suffrage expansion in the US, reversed post-Mussolini’s rise.
    • Second Wave (Mid-1940s-1962):
    • Triggered post-WWII, peaked at 36 democratic nations, reversed during 1960-1975.
    • The Third Wave (Mid-1970s-1990s):

- Saw at least 30 countries transition to democracy.

FACTORS CAUSING THE THIRD WAVE

  • Legitimacy Crisis of Authoritarian Regimes:
    • Increased public expectations for governance.
    • Demand for competitive and periodic elections.
    • Poor economic or military outcomes.
  • Economic Modernization:
    • Structural changes and urbanization.
    • Education and emergence of a middle class.
    • Emphasis on individual rights against authoritarian rule.
  • Regional Dynamics:
    • Influenced by geography and culture.
  • External Influences:

- Efforts by entities like the EU promoting democracy.

PROCESSES OF DEMOCRACY

  • Transformation:
  • Top-Down Change:
    • Elite-controlled adjustments from within the existing political framework.
  • Trans-placement:
    • Negotiated reforms of regime governance.
  • Replacement:

- Complete regime breakdown or rupture.

GLOBALIZATION OF DEMOCRACY

  • Liberal World Order Triumph:
  • End of History Thesis by Francis Fukuyama (1989, 1991):
    • Democracy perceived as the ultimate governance model post-Cold War.
  • Quantitative Growth:

- Between mid-1970s to 2010, democracies increased from around 35 to nearly 120 globally as noted by Huntington’s Third Wave.

DEMOCRACY IN RECESSION?

  • Larry Diamond’s Argument (Early 2000s):
    • Mentioned a recession phase for the Third Wave.
  • Fourth Wave Consideration:

- Referenced Arab Spring impacts beginning 2011 with setbacks in countries like Egypt and Libya, μుacommenting potential decline. (Fukuyama, 2014).

THE REPUBLICAN SYSTEM

  • Discussion Topics:
    • Meaning
    • Key features
    • Advantages

- Challenges faced in the implementation or sustenance of republican ideals.

ASSIGNMENT

  • Task:

- Analyze similarities between features of the Fourth Republican democracy and traditional African governance systems.

LESSON 2: 1992 CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA

PRESENTATION OUTLINE

  • Key Topics:
    • The making of the 1992 Constitution
    • Core features of the Constitution
    • Role of statutory institutions within Fourth Republican politics

- Overview of the arms of state: Executive, Legislature, Judiciary

CLASS DISCUSSION

  • Topic:

- After three decades of enforcement, do you support changes to the 1992 Constitution to reflect current developments?

MAKING OF THE 1992 CONSTITUTION

  • Timeline of Events:
    • July 1990: National Commission for Democracy (NCD) organized public seminars for constitutional discussions across regional capitals.
    • March 25, 1991: NCD released the report titled ‘Evolving a True Democracy.’
    • May 1991: Formation of a 9-member Committee of Experts for drafting proposals.
    • July 31, 1991: The proposal report submitted.
    • August 26, 1991: Inauguration of a 258-member Consultative Assembly (CA).
    • March 31, 1992: CA submitted a report to the PNDC.

- April 28, 1992: Referendum held with results showing 92% approval for the Constitution.

FEATURES OF THE 1992 CONSTITUTION

  • Hybridity:
    • Incorporates elements from both presidential and parliamentary systems.
  • Separation of Powers:
    • Executive and Legislature powers merged, alongside a relatively independent Judiciary.
  • Excessive Powers of the Executive President:
    • Articles 70 & 71 highlight the significant authority held by the President.
  • Buffer Institutions Established:
    • Institutions such as CHRAJ (Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice) and Auditor General set up to address administrative infractions.
  • Human Rights Protections:
    • Chapter 5 ensures the promotion and safeguarding of human rights.
  • Media Independence:
    • Article 162 outlines rights for independent media.
  • Multiparty System Articulation:

- Articles 3(1&2) & 21(3) promote political diversity and tolerance.

STATUTORY INSTITUTIONS

  • Relevant Chapters and Articles:
    • NCCE (National Commission for Civic Education): Chapter 19 (Articles 231-239).
    • CHRAJ: Chapter 18 (Articles 216-230).
    • NMC (National Media Commission): Chapter 12 (Articles 166-173).

- EC (Electoral Commission): Chapter 7 (Articles 43-54).

FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS

  • Categories of Human Rights:
    • Civil and Political Rights:
    • e.g., rights to life, fair trial, free expression, voting rights.
    • Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights:
    • e.g., rights to work, education, health, adequate living standards.
    • Group and Solidarity Rights:
    • e.g., women’s rights, children’s rights, rights for the disabled.

- Refer to Chapter 5 (Articles 1233) for their explicit protections.

ASSIGNMENT

  • Task:

- Discuss three (3) strengths and three (3) weaknesses of the 1992 Constitution, following specified formatting guidelines.

LESSON 3: THE ELECTORAL PROCESS IN THE FOURTH REPUBLIC OF GHANA

OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION

  • Examination of:
    • Electoral Commission
    • Political Parties and Party Politics
    • Historical elections from 1992 to 2020

- Political dynamics during elections.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION (EC)

  • Composition:
    • Seven-member commission structure:
    • One Chairperson, two Deputies, and four other members.
  • Powers and Functions:

- Extensive powers are outlined in Articles 47, 49, 51-53, alongside independence measures in Articles 46 & 54.

POLITICAL PARTIES AND PARTY POLITICS

  • Legal Framework:
    • Defined under Articles 55(1-17) & 56.

- Establishes a de jure multiparty system within a de facto two-party system.

MEANING AND TYPES OF ELECTIONS

  • Purpose of Elections:
    • Enable peaceful competition, citizen participation, and serve as platforms for exercising political rights.
  • Types of Electoral Systems and Theories of Voting Behavior:

- Examination of diverse voting behavior theories and electoral systems used within the Fourth Republic.

INCUMBENCY ADVANTAGE

  • Factors Contributing:

- Access to resources, security advantages, and media coverage favoring incumbents.

ELECTION RESULTS

  • Presidential Voting Data:

- J. J. Rawlings (NDC) - 58.4%; A. Adu Boahen (NPP) - 30.3%; Hilla Limann - 6.7%; other candidates had below 3%.

ELECTION OBSERVERS

  • Assessors:

- Different local and international bodies (e.g., Commonwealth, Carter Center) ensure credibility in elections despite opposition claims regarding inequitable playing fields.

PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

  • Opposition Demands:
    • Clamored for interim governance and an updated electoral commission before elections nearly occurred.
  • Results:

- NDC won with 189 seats; NPP with fewer; a significant number of independents.

SAFEGUARDS AND CHALLENGES

CIVIL SOCIETY

  • Barriers Faced:

- Historical authoritarian governance, restrictive political environments, and media control impact the effectiveness of civil society.

THE 1996 ELECTIONS

MAJOR REFORMS

  • Established:

- Significant electoral reforms leading to better voter identification processes and transparent ballot systems.

POST-ELECTION POLITICS

  • Dynamic Relations:

- Politics surrounding the post-election processes included formation of new coalitions and anticipated power struggles.

LATER ELECTIONS

2000-2008

  • Compositions of elections:

- Issues with both NPP and NDC, electoral advancements, public sentiment towards major issues affecting outcomes.

LESSON 5: CONSOLIDATING THE FOURTH REPUBLIC

DISCUSSIONS

  • Core Themes:
    • Consolidated democracy essence and role of civil society.

- The media's influence and constitutional legitimacy regarding the democratic process in Ghana.

TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION (TRC)

MANDATE AND OPERATIONS

  • Functions:

- Aim to uncover truths regarding past governance and abuses, performing public and private hearings.

ASSIGNMENTS FOR DISCUSSION

- Evaluate democratic features, constitutional strengths and weaknesses, and the electoral commission's roles within democratic frameworks.

CONCLUSION

  • Culmination of Discussions:
    • Emphasizes the interplay between civil society, governance, and public participation in consolidating Ghana’s democracy, while advocating for ongoing evaluation and reforms as necessary for sustaining democratic processes.