Rethinking Ghana's
Democracy
A Framework for Institutional Reform and National Development
Thirty-three years into the Fourth Republic, Ghana’s democracy stands at a crossroads. It is time to reimagine, restructure, and rebuild the foundations of our governance to fulfill the constitutional promise of prosperity for all.
The Premise
Ghana’s democracy has failed woefully. It has not delivered the constitutional promise of economic and social development to the population. Thirty-three years into Ghana’s Fourth Republican Constitution, the nation is groping, with no clear focus or direction in its development.
This is happening against the backdrop of persistent poverty, disease, disgusting sanitation, unemployment, and permeating corruption among the general population.
Why has democracy in Ghana failed to deliver the development we all hoped for, in spite of the massive investment of time, energy and money in this venture?
The Systemic Failures
Ghana’s democratic system has severe loopholes which fuel corruption, promote impunity, blink at mediocrity, and stifle accountability.
Too much power in one person
Making one person both President and Head of State
is a recipe for political corruption and abuse of power
A Weak Parliament
MPs defend party interests, rather than the national interest, and cannot hold the Executive to account
Control of the economy by Political Parties
Party-focussed economic policies, abandoned projects, poor execution and supervision.
Fuels exclusivity and prevents the best minds from contributing to economic policy.
Weak District assemblies
A District Assembly system that does not deliver local development
Weak State Institutions
Political appointments and interference weaken national institutions and stifle accountability
Mediocrity
Political affiliation, rather than merit has become the basis for state appointments
The government and the people not in sync
Government postures to do all, and the people sit on the fence expecting government to do all
Corruption
Pervasive corruption and lack of concerted effort to tackle it
A Framework for Reform
Bold institutional changes to make democracy work for the people of Ghana
- Separating the dual role of President of the Republic and Head of State
- Vesting the Head of State position in a body called the State Council
- Strengthening Parliament by making it truly independent of the executive arm of government
- Making the District Assemblies the starting point for a career in Parliament
- Not appointing members of Parliament as ministers of state
- Making Political Parties only implementors of State policy
- Empowering the National Development Planning Commission to craft National Development Policies
- Strengthening the District Assemblies to be true agents of rural development
- Developing a responsible general population which plays functional roles in national development
Learn More
Explore the full framework through our detailed documentation and audio presentations—available for download or listening.
The Status Quo
An examination of Ghana’s current democratic framework and its fundamental structural weaknesses.
Toxic Duality
How the fusion of the roles of President of the Republic and Head of State negatively affects good governance and the role of law, and fuels corruption.
Controlling Authority
A call for a supervisory authority over and above the president to protect the national interest and strengthen state institutions
A House Divided
How MPs elected on the ticket of political parties weaken Parliament and make it play second fiddle to the Executive
Porous Hands
How the total control of the economy by Political Parties weaken the economy, and a call to redefine the role of political parties in national development
In The Wings
A call to strengthen the District Assembly System to tap their potential to deliver development to the districts
Latent Partners
A call on government to consider the citizenry as partners in national development, and drive them to be active partners in national development
Defensive Mode
Answering the naysayers. Arguments supporting the ideas on this website, and a call for change to the current political system.