Other than this news confirming the fact that Ghana is now looking to become Sub-Saharan Africa's shining example of effective democracy, and the fact that it is my parents country of origin this news is important to me (and should be important to us all) in large part that the success of democracy in Ghana can ultimately mean a whole lot for the success of democracy in Africa in the future. Furthermore, Ghana can also provide observers with a great case study to see what factors of democracy work and didn't work in Ghana, why, and how we can use this information to help foster more applications of real democratic policies throughout the continent.
Looking towards the future, Ghana's migration towards democracy has and will continue to be interesting, and as the country faces new and more important obstacles such as: growing Oil industry and projects, social issues such as education and sexuality, and continuing regional conflict, the way Ghana deals with these issues will most likely determine whether or not it will continue on this path. As for policymakers and observers in the future for Ghana and the rest of the continent in terms of democracy, we must allow for African countries to develop these ideals on their own time and allow for Africans to have their own beliefs on what issues matter most to their lives and their country. The best policymakers can do is observe and apply what we see negatively and positively in these situations, rather than command and monitor (like we are used to doing) when it comes to supporting the increase of democracy within the region. Doing this will ensure that Africans and Africans alone determine the fate of democracy on the continent and with the recent Arab Spring in the Middle East we can see what big and monumental change this can lead to.
Articles:
Ghana: Congratulations, President John Dramani Mahama. December, 11, 2012
Ghana's Opposition Rejects Outcome of Presidential Polls. December, 11, 2012
http://allafrica.com/stories/201212111138.html
http://allafrica.com/stories/201212110115.html
I agree that the best course of action for policy-makers is to allow for African citizens to develop their own ideals regarding what problems need to be addressed the most. Policymakers should observe how local populations are being negatively and positively impacted by issues concerning oil, social policies and regional conflicts, before making decisions on how they will support the increase of democracy in the region. It is of even greater importance that policymakers take this approach because it will ensure Africans that they are in control of democracy's fate in the country, and thus if democracy does take hold, they will feel a stronger value for and desire to uphold democratic regimes.
ReplyDeleteI think that Ghana's example is one that other African countries can follow. It seems that Ghana proves that democracy can become the norm and a country can develop strong state institutions where power can be transfered peacefully.
ReplyDeleteIt will be interesting to see the effects of a growing oil industry on the country, as often history has shown this can be harmful to a country.
I too wonder what the outcome will be when you take into account Ghana's dependence on their growing oil industry. That has proven to be detrimental to the income disparity of a country and obviously makes them quite susceptible to global economic crises. However, I do not know much about the oil industry in Ghana specifically so I will have to do more research.
ReplyDeleteI also wonder how the outcome of oil dependence will play out in Ghana. If Ghana falls to the resource curse it doesn't beau well for democracy in the country either. In many other African countries conflicts spill over and regime types can spread into neighboring countries (i.e. Rwanda, Uganda, DRC, etc). I wonder and hope this would be the case in Ghana, that democracy in this country can spill over to neighboring countries and than spread further.
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