CONTOURS OF AFRICAN DEMOCRACY: A NARRATIVE OF TAILORING GOVERNANCE TO LOCAL REALITIES– A GHANAIAN ODYSSEY

Year 2023, Volume: 5 Issue: 2, 5 - 28, 29.12.2023

Harun Abubakar Siddique

https://doi.org/10.54132/akaf.1376487

Cited By: 1

Abstract

Democracy, as a system of government where the people have a say in the running of the affairs of the state, has been advocated largely by Western intellectuals and policymakers alike. Having taken root and bearing roots in Europe and beyond, it seems democracy offers some sort of hope and opportunity. However, for the African continent, this hope and opportunity continue to elude the people. This paper argues as its central point that for democracy to work effectively, it needs to take into consideration the cultural and traditional landscape of the region, state, or area where it is being implemented. The paper mentions the subjective nature of democracy and where its features or characteristics intersect. Africa as a continent must see and view democracy as such and go on to feature their traditions in their respective states. The paper mentions the efforts Ghana made (although with little democratic dividends) towards this argument and what happened to it.

Keywords

Democracy , Africa , Ghana , & Government

CONTOURS OF AFRICAN DEMOCRACY A NARRATIVE OF TAILORING GOVERNANCE TO LOCAL REALITIES– A GHANAIAN ODYSSEY

Abstract

Democracy, as a system of government where the people have a say in the running of the affairs of the state, has been advocated largely by Western intellectuals and policymakers alike. Having taken root and bearing roots in Europe and beyond, it seems democracy offers some sort of hope and opportunity. However, for the African continent, this hope and opportunity continue to elude the people. This paper argues as its central point that for democracy to work effectively, it needs to take into consideration the cultural and traditional landscape of the region, state, or area where it is being implemented. The paper mentions the subjective nature of democracy and where its features or characteristics intersect. Africa as a continent must see and view democracy as such and go on to feature their traditions in their respective states. The paper mentions the efforts Ghana made (although with little democratic dividends) towards this argument and what happened to it.

Keywords

Democracy , Africa , Ghana , & Government

References

• Afrobarometer (2019), Democracy in Africa: Demand, supply, and the ‘dissatisfied democrat’. Retrieved from https://afrobarometer.org/publications/pp54-democracy-africa-demand-supply-and-dissatisfied-democrat (Accessed 12.11.2023)
• AKE, Claude (1991) Rethinking African Democracy. Journal of Democracy, 2(1), 32-44.
• Aljazeera (2020), Ghana President Nana Akufo-Addo wins re-election as 5 killed. Retrieved from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/12/9/five-killed-in-ghana-election-violence-as-accusations-continue (Accessed 10.12.2023)
• American Historical Association (AHA), Locations of Nigerian Ethnic Groups. Retrieved from https://www.historians.org/teaching-and-learning/teaching-resources-for-historians/teaching-and-learning-in-the-digital-age/through-the-lens-of-history-biafra-nigeria-the-west-and-the-world/the-republic-of-biafra/location-of-nigerian-ethnic-groups (Accessed 20.11.2023)
• ANDREW, Heywood (2003), Political Ideologies: An Introduction (Third edition, p. 330).
• ARHIN, Kwame (1993). The Life and Work of Kwame Nkrumah. Trenton, NJ: Africa World Press.
• ASIWAJU, Anthony L. (1984), (Ed.). Partitioned Africans: Ethnic Relations Across Africa's International Boundaries.
• BBC (2017), Namibia's Himba people caught between traditions and modernity. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-40247310 (Accessed 09.11.2023)
• CRAIN, Zac (2019), Imam Omar Suleiman Targeted After Prayer Before Congress. Retrieved from https://www.dmagazine.com/frontburner/2019/05/imam-omar-suleiman-targeted-after-prayer-before-congress/ (Accessed 11.12.2023)
• FARR, Jason (2005), Point: The Westphalia Legacy and The Modern Nation-State. International Social Science Review, 80(3/4), 156–159.
• France24 (2016), Understanding 'laicité': The ins and outs of state secularism. Retrieved from https://www.france24.com/en/20160121-laicite-secularism-france-history-philosophy-government-state-public-schools-religion-extre (Accessed 12.10.2023)
• FRIMPONG, Enoch D. & ARKU, Jasmine (2018), Akufo-Addo nominates IEA boss Jean Mensa as the new EC chair. Retrieved from https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/akufo-addo-names-jean-mensa-as-new-ec.html (Accessed 15.11.2023)
• GYIMAH-BOADI, Emmanuel (2005), Democratic Reform in Africa: The Quality of Progress. Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner Publishers.
• HARUNA, Abdallah I. (2023), Ghana’s Foreign Policy Under Military Regimes, 1966-1993: An Historical Review. Afro Eurasian Studies, 11(2), 40-68.
• HEYWOOD, Andrew (2003). Political Ideologies: An Introduction (Third edition, p. 330).
• HIRST, John (2004). Papers on Parliament Number 42, The Distinctiveness of Australian Democracy, p.10/13
• JENNINGS, W. Ivor (1963), Democracy in Africa (Cambridge).
• KALEDZI, Isaac (2018), Ghana’s Electoral Commission boss sacked by President. Retrieved from https://africafeeds.com/2018/06/29/ghanas-electoral-commission-boss-sacked-by-president/ (Accessed 29.11.2023)
• KAUNDA, Kenneth D. (1971), A Path for the Future. Lusaka.
• Lamar Soutter Library. Cultural Approaches to Pediatric Palliative Care in Central Massachusetts: Ghanaian. Retrieved from https://libraryguides.umassmed.edu/diversity_guide/ghanaian (Accessed 22.11.2023)
• Local Government Information Digest (1991), 4(4), July-August 1991, p. 1.
• MARSHALL, Thomas H. (1950), Citizenship and social class: and other essays. Cambridge [England: University Press.
• MEGAN, Duzor & WILLIAMSON, Brian (2023). Coups in Africa. Retrieved from: https://projects.voanews.com/african-coups/ (Accessed 11.11.2023)
• NKRUMAH, Kwame (1963), Africa must unite. New York: F.A. Praeger.
• NUGENT, Paul (1995), Africa since Independence: A Comparative History. London: Palgrave Macmillan.
• OWUSU, Maxwell (1992), Democracy and Africa -- A View from the Village. The Journal of Modern African Studies, 30(3), 369–396.
• PRC. Cameron. Retrieved from https://www.prc.cm/en/cameroon (Accessed 03.11.2023)
• REJAI, Mostafa, & ENLOE, Cynthia H. (1969), Nation-States and State-Nations. International Studies Quarterly, 13(2), 140–158.
• ROUSSEAU, Jean J. (1762), The Social Contract. Paris, France.
• SCHUMPETER, Joseph A. (1942), Capitalism, socialism, and democracy.
• SKLAR, Richard L. (1983), Democracy in Africa. African Studies Review, 26(3/4), 11–24.
• TRT (2020), Why do Mauritanian women celebrate divorce? Retrieved from https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/why-do-mauritanian-women-celebrate-divorce-32997 (Accessed 20.10.2023)
• US (2019), 2019 Report on International Religious Freedom: Lebanon. Retrieved from https://www.state.gov/reports/2019-report-on-international-religious-freedom/lebanon/ (Accessed 15.12.2023)
• VAISSE, Justin (2004), Veiled Meaning: The French Law Banning Religious Symbols in Public Schools. Retrieved from https://www.brookings.edu/articles/veiled-meaning-the-french-law-banning-religious-symbols-in-public-schools/ (Accessed 16.12.2023)