Resource Democracy: Ghana

Kaylanie Johnson
Introduction

In March 1957 Kwame Nkrumah declared independence for Ghana – formerly referred to as the "Gold Coast" – from the British Government and established a Republic. Ghana was the first sub-saharan nation to gain independence from British colonization. Peaceful political protests and armed resistance aided in the declaration of freedom against Britain. This major win for the region was described by Nkrumah as "a spearhead for the liberation of the rest of Africa from colonial rule and the establishment of a socialist African unity under his leadership" (Britannica, 2001). The passion and pride exerted from Ghana's citizens was felt around the continent.

Multiple African leaders advocated for African socialism to be the new uniting cause that would replace the anti-colonial movement in Africa. The agenda put in place by President Nkrumah, however, abandoned many socialist ideals and exploited its majority. The decline of freedom was apparent by the mid-1960's, with the role of the government heavily impeding not just the democratic process, but the lives of individuals in the state.

The industry of agriculture makes up 54% of Ghana's GDP and under President Nkrumah, 10% of all agricultural earnings were taken by the state. It was also demanded that local-level development workers in Ghana were to act as an extension of the state and spy on fellow citizens for threats to the president-turned-dictator's rule (Skinner, 2011).

Disapproval for the president was rising and the future of Ghana became something that many different actors wanted to change A viable solution for a crisis of political legitimacy of credibility, confidence and trust in existing political institutions constitutions-seem to be the dominant public preoccupation in the west African nation (Owusu,1979). In 1966, a coup deposed President Nkrumah. The coup d'etat was the first of many, and following this period, Ghana alternated between democratic rule and military dictatorship. (Appiagyei-Atua, 2008).

The sequence of democratization that Ghana has undergone truly began in 1992 when Jerry Rawlings was elected president. The decentralization of government was apparent in the newly produced Ghana 1992 Constitution. The country's need for stability and helpful political power created a landscape for the introduction of a new constitution. The installment created a stronger relationship between people in the region through political activity. This in turn increased political participation and made a path for a more accountable and responsive local government (Crawford, 2009). Improving the economy, strengthening ethnic gaps, and emphasizing the wants of the citizenry were at the forefront of what the Ghanaians expected of their government.

Through collective efforts, people were finally given authority over their leadership. The vision of a government concerned with the wants of its citizens never waivered. Since 2008, Ghana has held multiple free and fair elections, smooth transitions of power, and installed agencies to combat the threat of corruption. Ghana has one of the largest economies in the African region as the economy has expanded by 3.9% yearly (Sasu, 2021). Ghana's growth momentum can be attributed to its export goods.

Ghana is not new to resource wealth. The country has been rich in gold, timber, cocoa, beans, and more. (Gyimah-Boadi, 2012). The consolidation of agricultural efforts and a wish for a functioning democracy spurred their democratic process. The pattern of incomes' effect on democracy is consistent with the idea that societies embarked on divergent political-economic development paths at certain critical junctures (Acemoglu et al., 2008). Ghana's critical point was the 1996 re-election of Jerry Rawlings. The responsiveness of the Ghanian government and the citizen's maintenance of democratic practices such as voting under the threat of radical groups aided the continuation of democracy. Moreover, the resource wealth of the country leads to the theory that Ghana has been able to achieve a successful democracy after a tumultuous period in spite of a political history and conflict from neighboring countries because it exploited its natural resources and remained active in maintaining democratic processes. Effective voting and campaigning, a successful economy, and a responsive government are components of Ghana's successful development towards its democracy. The following sections will discuss these topics and themes and ultimately show that cooperation between citizens and political actors have pushed both sides towards participation in the democratic process through effective campaign strategies and political communication.

Review of the Literature

"Hwimhwim adee ko srosro" translates to English as "what comes easily goes easily." The push and pull of democracy in Ghana has shown truth to this popular Akan proverb. The system of Democracy and what the implementation of its governance entails has gained popularity around the world (Gilley, 2009). The persistence of Ghanaians in pursuing political stability and unwavering want of democracy is what created the political environment that could endure coup after coup. The literature that currently exists surrounding Ghana praises its consolidation of democracy and seeks to explain their system of democracy compared to other sub-saharan countries. Observing the coup-prone state convert into one of the most successful African countries, "academics, political practitioners, and interested observers of politics in Ghana often agree on one thing: a robust and positively linear evolution of democratic practice in this West African nation-state has been nothing but spectacular." (Keteku, 2017).

Ghana's responsive political system has also been studied widely. When examining Ghana's citizen engagement Terence Darko found that as Ghana went through democratic consolidation, having a vibrant political society – including a vocal media – made the government more responsive to citizens' demands (2017). Ethnic politics is a recurring issue of contention in the Ghanian political world between the two major political parties, the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress. These political parties are often identified with particular ethnic groups, and ethnicity is a major determinant of vote choice in sub-Saharan Africa (Ichino & Nathan, 2013). Issues that continue to arise in Ghana pertaining to cross ethnic issues, or leadership complaints could have potentially destroyed the democratic culture that was so long in the making in 2002.

So, how have the differing opinions of citizens been kept so civil? The value of discussion and maintenance of Ghana's political parties were reinforced by the country's economic prosperity. When there is an economic incentive for cooperation, democracy can thrive more easily; voters are essentially investing their political support in candidates who – no matter their ethnicity – are all working together to ensure the longevity of democracy in Ghana through balance of power and constructing financial growth through the country's resources.

Accountability

Communication between the state and citizens is an essential element in establishing and maintaining a democracy. "Growing social inequalities, lack of proper public services, and denial of basic human rights all act to widen existing communication gaps'' (Darko, 2017). The government has to be in tune with the interests and disapprovals of the citizenry. Research on the creation of Ghana's National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in 2004 shows how the state behaves in instances of accountable governance. The NHIS was a landmark social justice policy process in Africa that provided basic health care coverage to Ghanaians. With the restoration of financial discipline resulting in significant progress toward attaining macroeconomic stabilization, there were significant democratic developments in Ghana involving major policy proposals and parliament cooperation. (Press Release, 2002)

Political accountability in the government improves the landscape for democracy, as shown in Ghana. Since the early 1990's Ghana has been consciously creating policy efforts to reduce poverty by attempting to take advantage of the country's regions that are endowed with profitable resources such as gold, timber, and cocoa. As a result, the overall poverty rate has fallen from 51.7 percent in 1991/92 to 39.5 percent in 1998/99" (PR, 2002). In 2002, Ghana's government developed a detailed plan that proposed its democratic efforts and plans for economic growth. This plan and its agreed measures were constructed to receive the debt relief package offered by the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative. The government's achievement of the loan allowed for democratic focus on politics and motivation to continue its plan. The country's economic success at the time due to its high production access to debt relief and the adoption of a Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper influenced the government's decision to enact a health insurance policy (Darko, 2017). Parliament's delivery on the promise of national healthcare was the direct result of the country and its aided, and focused democratic efforts. This increased the government's level of reliability to motivated voters.

"Beyond participation, the Ghanaian constitution also contains provisions for transparency and accountability mechanisms. For instance, in ensuring financial discipline and effective management of resources and economic governance to meet the needs of citizenry, it provides for institutions that exercise stringent control on the use of public resources" (Darko, 2017).

The government of Ghana knew the importance of accountability when creating a constitutional democracy. The responsibility the government owes to voters to protect their interests and ability to communicate is vital. Voting is an accountability mechanism ensuring Ghana's democracy. Economic growth is fueling the relevance of retrospective voting as a tool of accountability in the Ghanaian elections. The condition of the country and where Ghana's potential is being taken is considered when voting.

Voters' perception on government performance can be more focused on when the economic environment is conducive for fair and safe elections. In establishing its democratic process the votes that were cast in Ghana were made through retrospective voting. While African countries suffer from a myriad of ailments, they also inhabit an "emerging" region demonstrating strong macroeconomic growth accompanied by social improvements (Radelet 2011).

Moreover, the continent's history of abusive leaders and extremist groups inform voters' decisions. Results of a research study by Erin Ellis present statistically and substantively significant evidence that African voters are retrospective; as perceptions of the government's general performance or handling of particular social and economic issues improves, so does the likelihood of incumbent support, and vice versa. (Ellis, 2014).

Campaigns and Strategies

The campaign strategies of Ghanaian politicians are greatly affected by economic prosperity and promises of democracy. Ghana's economic strategy since 1992 has focused on macroeconomic stabilization and structural reform in a democratic environment (Mills, 2018). The participatory approach to economics in the region and politics aided in the occurrence of peaceful presidential campaigns in Ghana.

The article Africa in Focus views Ghana through the paradoxical lens that it is similar to other regions in its potential but differs in the political capabilities. When examining the elections that occur every four years the subject matter of issues typically has stayed the same throughout its democratic cycles. "Voters' wants and issues are contested on the basis of promised infrastructure projects, utility price reductions, the restoration of allowances, payment of arrears, and the elimination of (school) fees, etc" (Mills, 2018).The two dominant political parties once again being the National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party with neither party being associated with consistent and coherent policies to favor a particular socio-economic group or economic activity. (Mills, 2018)

Soundbites in Ghana have become an essential component during elections. Soundbites are short, catchy, but powerful messages released from candidates. There is research that shows its growing importance on presidential elections. There have been various soundbites that encourage political participation and democratic awareness. Examples include the use of the word "Edzumawura," which means "owner of jobs" (Kofi Preko, 2019). This is synonymous with creating employment for the country. Ghana's most popular source of employment is assisting in the country's exporting relations as more than half of the population is working in the agricultural sector.

The results of the journal were compatible with the rational choice theory set out by political scientist Gary Becker, which suggests that voters seek to cast a vote based on the maximization of utility the candidate will have. Responses to the journal's questionnaire supported the retrospective voting tactic of Ghanaians. This occurred as the 557 Ghanaian voters aged 18 years and above who participated in the election considered examining contents of political campaign promises, an assessment of the quality of the candidate, and the policies and performance of the incumbent party (Kofi Preko, 2019). Research found that Ghanaian voters actively engaged with soundbites during election campaigns and used a rational approach when voting in addition to the soundbites.

Oil Wealth

The link between economic development and democracy is a phenomenon that can be examined in Ghana. Seymour Martin Lipset was one of the first proponents of the "Theory of Modernization." The theory seeks to provide a causal explanation about the result of economic growth and democracy. The more economically developed a country is, the higher the chances are of democracy's sustainability. The theory mentions how "modernization favors democracy because it enhances ordinary people's abilities and motivation to demand democracy" (Inglehart, 2010). The natural wealth of Ghana had always been shown through export of agriculture but the most recent resource that was found has already surpassed the record of previous resources.

In 2007, there was a discovery of the Jubilee oil field in the Gulf of Guinea. The field was found off the western end of Ghana's shoreline. The appearance of the oil came with a sense of discretion by leaders since they were familiar with the implications of this resource. The continent of Africa is abundantly rich with minerals and crops. However, the exploitation of these lands and corruption in governments has created a sense of unluckiness when a valuable resource appears in an area. The failure of Nigeria, Chad, Angola, and Sudan to use their oil resources to benefit their respective countries has contributed to corruption, violence, and decimation of governments.

To avoid the possibility of mismanagement when it came to this resource a committee was established to ensure proper management. In 2011, Ghana enacted a Petroleum Revenue Management Act. In the act, the Public Interest and Accountability Committee was created to ensure accountability, transparency, and to monitor the progression of oil production and revenue. The committee's purpose, at least superficially, is to ensure that the oil that was found will continually benefit all the citizens of Ghana.

Resources and Voting Efficacy

The appearance of the Jubilee oil field aided in democratic efforts. As the appearance of this wealth came before the 2008 presidential elections. The 2008 election repeatedly mentioned export plans that involved gold, cocoa, timber and crude oil (Keteku, 2017). Questions of corruption prevention and proper oil distribution were popular during the campaign trail. At a debate President Mahama was emphasizing the importance of delicately introducing oil in Ghana's trade deals. President Mahama stated during a debate "It doesn't pay to have such a God-blessed resource and just have foreigners come and take it away without any benefit to your people, " (Burke, 2012). The economic promise of the country aided in democracy and gave Ghanaians a sense of leadership control in what was being presented before them.

Examining this under Lipset's theory, the candidates knew the importance of economic development on the future of presidential elections. The wealth that is being encouraged by leaders and the outcomes that are being predicted or prevented show that the expected wealth was being projected to aid in sustaining democracy in Ghana. This then goes to encourage government effectiveness since the stability of financial development and prolonged effectiveness breeds legitimacy in a country's political system. Africa's varying history with waves of democracy demonstrates how easily shaken democracy can be. The establishment of a strong economy was in the best interest of the leaders and citizens of Ghana. Oil production and its prospects demanded a stable economic structure dissimilar to neighboring African countries. The wealth that was predicted to be brought in and spread increased the probability for Ghana's democracy to solidify from that year and on.

Data

A study done by Leonard Wantchekon and Nathan Jensen posited that resource wealth was a major determinant in democratic governance in Africa, and that policy is largely based on resources' potential profitability. The study presented empirical evidence that tells a story of resource correlation between a large profitable natural resource and lack of democracy. The study describes countries that have very high levels of "resource rents" available. In countries where the resource rents are high, the course of politics is dominated by policies of redistributing the wealth made from exporting the country's resources. This then takes away from forming actual ideologies in a democratic system and instead goes into forming pure issue stance rhetoric that never allows for all issues and needs to be brought up in election cycles.

The authors find that countries rich in natural resources can only become democratic by instilling systemic vertical and horizontal accountability within the nation (Wantchekon & Jansen, 2004). In the context of Ghana, the country was endowed with a surprise natural resource and the first aim of people and officials was to ensure that repsource be dispersed among all Ghanaians. The economic prosperity brought on by this process of export allows for economic success. It's also to be predicted that the wealthier the country, the better the provision of public services.

In 1983, Jerry Rawlings, along with the Provisional National Defense Council (PNDC), created for Ghana "a structural adjustments economic reform" that carried them into a new democratic regime and greatly affected the economic development of the country (Lynsey, 2020). The defense council was formed to use the country's natural resources to increase economic production. "The economic objectives of the PNDC were to halt Ghana's economic decay, stabilize the economy, and stimulate economic growth. The PNDC also brought a change in the people's attitude from a 'government will provide' position to participating in democratic nation-building" (Sasu, 2021). Data shows that Ghana has strengthened its democracy by building policy brought on by its agricultural value and natural resource trade success. Another agriculture based proposal is Ghana's Strengthening Accountability Mechanisms (GSAM). This is a five-year project that seeks to "strengthen citizens' oversight of capital development projects to improve local government and its devotion to the democratic process. Finally, the Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda (GSGDA 2010-2013) focused on supporting oil and gas development, with investments in infrastructure, energy, housing and agricultural processes. The agenda focuses on battling poverty, and increasing access to health and education for citizens. The push toward democracy has persisted due to policies like these as it increases quality of life in the African country and political stability. The Global Economy reports that the current rate of political stability in Ghana is 0.13 points. For comparison, the world average in 2020 based on 194 countries is -0.07 points, with Ghana being in the top 10 most politically stable African countries. Ghana's rate has persistently increased over time. Policies like the ones mentioned above have strengthened Ghana's reputation, and fortified its capability to maintain its democracy.

Conclusion

The findings of this paper suggest that the country's natural resources were the beginning source of power in achieving democracy in Ghana. Its inspiring potential created opportunity for growth and became a rallying force for political change towards a democratic fate. Ghana's prosperous land, reactive political platforms, and civic encouragement of democracy caused a stimulation in economic growth and also in the country's employment sector. The abundance of resources and its ability to assist in creating jobs and opportunity developed the country of Ghana. Citizens and political actors turned what is culturally viewed as a "curse" into a long lasting system of government. Ghana has been able to achieve a successful democracy after a tumultuous political history and because it exploited its natural resources and remained active in maintaining the democratic processes. Effective voting and campaigning, a successful economy, and a responsive government are components of Ghana's successful development towards democracy. Political communication, cooperation and participation benefits both citizens and political actors and in tune has strengthened the country's democratic process. These findings can assist in research and serve as a political blueprint for other African countries. Ghana resembles many other countries in Africa. The possession of resource-rich lands and tenacious goals towards democracy allow for the possibility of creating another country just as successful as Ghana.

References

Ilios copyright © 2024 all rights reserved
Ilios copyright © 2024 all rights reserved