Political Governance in Ghana


 


Political Changes in Ghana


            Ghana was the first African nation to successfully break free from colonial rule. It was the first to achieve independence in 1957. Because of this, Ghana served as the torchbearer for the fight for independence in Africa. It became the country, which other African countries sought to emulate. However, with independence came different problems and challenges caused by bad governance. The political sphere in Ghana was in constant turmoil. The military has overthrown elected civilian governments and assumed political power on several occasions, thus subjecting Ghanaians to more than tow decades of dictatorship and authoritarian governance. The intervening civilian rule of the Third Republic president by President  in 1979 was short-lived, brought to an abrupt end by the fifth military coup. From 1981 to the inauguration of the 1992 Constitution, Ghana was under a quasi-military-dominated system of governance. Constitutional rule was fully restored in 1993. Today, Ghanaians have had more than a decade of peaceful and acceptable constitutional rule. They have also been able to change political rules through the electoral process in a manner generally perceived to be free and fair. The 2000 and 2004 elections have confirmed the citizen’s acceptance of the electoral principle as the legitimate mechanism for acquiring political power and assuming leadership of the institutions of governance.


 


The Role of New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD)


            The NEPAD seeks to create a new basis for Africa’s development through a contract between African governments and the people of Africa, recognizing the wide-spread dissatisfaction within Africa on political governance issues. In addition is envisages a more balanced partnership between African countries and donors. One of the most innovative aspects of NEPAD is the peer review mechanism, which aims to have African leaders set the governance standards by which they will be judged, as well as undertake the judging ( and  2006). In the are of political governance, NEPAD is paving the way for conflict resolution as well as for the enhancement of the capacity and strengthening the institutions in administrative and civil structures, parliamentary oversight, participatory decision-making, judicial services and anti-corruption mechanisms ( 2003). Democracy and Political Governance constitute one of the major commitments of NEPAD.


 


Democracy and Political Governance


            Democracy is a system of governance in which people effectively and meaningfully participate in the decision-making processes that affect their lives and livelihood. Politics is the process by which values, goods and services are allotted in society. Governance is the art and skill of utilizing political or collective power for the management of society at all levels – economic, social and political. Democracy and good political governance are basic foundations for the promotion of human development and the alleviation of poverty.


            Ghana is a presidential-parliamentary system of governance under a multi-party electoral system, in which the President and legislature serve four-year terms. The President’s electoral tenure is limited to two consecutive terms, whereas that of the parliamentarians is unlimited. The supremacy of the Constitution and entrenchment of the rule of law are the basic foundations on which all the institutions of governance, the private sector and civil society is grounded. The constitution and the rule of law offer protection of individual life; security of property; sanctity of contracts; protection from the government’s arbitrariness or abuse of power, and the assurance that one can enjoy the fruits of one’s labour. The 1992 Constitution contains ample provisions that entrench the rule of law, affirm the supremacy of the Constitution and constitutionalism, and constrain the abuse of power and discretionary authority of those in governance positions. The courts have clearly asserted their independent powers of judicial review and their willingness to pronounce certain Acts or behaviour of the Executive branch unconstitutional. Ghana has demonstrated that it is possible for the judiciary to be independent in Africa. Several provisions in the 1992 Constitution underscore the democratic rights of Ghanaians, and secure the independence of electoral mechanisms to ensure free and fair electoral processes. The Electoral Commission (EC) and the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) guarantee, promote, and protect the fundamental constitutional rights of Ghanaians to participate in political and related activities. The judicial system is designed to protect these rights and offers opportunities for redress by aggrieved persons and groups whose rights are violated or infringed upon ( 2005).


 


 


 


 


 


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