FINANCING POLITICAL PARTIES UNDER the FOURTH REPUBLIC of GHANA by KINGSLEY S. AGOMOR (10045973) Thesis Submitted to the Universi

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

FINANCING POLITICAL PARTIES UNDER the FOURTH REPUBLIC of GHANA by KINGSLEY S. AGOMOR (10045973) Thesis Submitted to the Universi University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh FINANCING POLITICAL PARTIES UNDER THE FOURTH REPUBLIC OF GHANA BY KINGSLEY S. AGOMOR (10045973) Thesis submitted to the University of Ghana, Legon, in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the award of PhD in Political Science degree June, 2015 University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh Declaration I, Kingsley Senyo Agomor, do hereby solemnly declare that apart from documentary and other sources of material cited and acknowledged in this work, I am entirely responsible for the authorship and any errors which may be found in this work despite the advice and suggestions I received from my supervisors. I also declare that this work has never been submitted by me or any other person to the University of Ghana, Legon or any other University for the award of any degree. …………………………….. Kingsley S. Agomor (STUDENT) SUPERVISORS ………………………………… …………………………………. PRINCIPAL SUPERVISOR SUPERVISOR EMERITUS PROF. K. A. NINSIN DR.MOHAMMED K. ABDULAI DEPT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE DEPT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE UNIVERSITY OF GHANA UNIVERSITY OF GHANA LEGON LEGON ……………………………………. SUPERVISOR DR. ZIBLIM IDDI DEPT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE UNIVERSITY OF GHANA LEGON i University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh Dedicated to: Becky, Joshua, Philip and Michael ii University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh Acknowledgement ‘God has made me to laugh and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me ’ (Genesis 21:6). I thank the Almighty God for the gift of life and knowledge, which enabled me to complete this thesis. My special gratitude goes to Professor Joseph R.A. Ayee, who started with the supervision of this thesis before his international appointment as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Head, College of Humanities, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa. To reach the pinnacle of academic height, I have had to stand on the back of academic giants to see my way clear. I therefore owe a debt of gratitude to Professor Emmanuel Gyimah-Boadi for his invaluable contributions and Professor Kwame Boafo-Arthur who stood by me when I needed his guidance. I lack the words to express my heartfelt appreciation to my principal supervisor, Professor Kwame A. Ninsin who read the draft and offered insightful suggestions. I pray that God will give me grace to extend the same passion with which he worked to my students. I am also grateful to the other members of the supervisory committee: Dr. Mohammed K. Abdulai and Dr. Ziblim Iddi for their patience, encouragement and advice that contributed to the completion of the thesis. I wish to express my profound gratitude to two officers from the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) who provided me with the baseline information for my data collection. I cannot forget Mr. David Kanga, the immediate past Deputy Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC) (Operations) for his immeasurable support in the collection of data at the headquarters of the EC. A note of thanks goes to the former Rector of GIMPA, Professor Yaw Agyeman Badu, as well as to Dr. Nicholas Amponsah, Dr. Nicholas Nii Okai, Professor E.K. Sakyi and Dr. Daniel Appiah for their academic interactions with me and inputs. A special word of gratitude also goes to Professor Kwaku Osei-Hwedie, Professor Samuel Adams, Mrs Love iii University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh Ankora, Mrs Patience Attoh, Mr. Noah Aguh, Mr. Joseph Tawiah, Mr. Felix Ntumi and Mr. Atua Willington, who all, in diverse ways, supported me during the time of writing this thesis. I am grateful to Dr. Emmanuel Debrah, the Head of Department of Political Science, University of Ghana, Legon, and all the staff of the Department who always responded promptly to my call for assistance. Finally, I am extremely grateful to my wife, Ellen, for her support, warmth and forbearance, and to my children, Joshua, Philip and Michael for their prayers during the difficult task of writing this thesis. I must, however, hasten to add that the persons mentioned are not responsible for the lapses and omissions of this thesis. iv University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh TABLE OF CONTENT Content - - - - - - - - - Page Declaration - - - - - - - - - i Dedication - - - - - - - - - ii Acknowledgement - - - - - - - - iii Table of Content - - - - - - - - v List of Tables - - - - - - - - x List of Figures - - - - - - - - xiii Acronyms - - - - - - - - xiv Abstract - - - - - - - - xviii Chapter One: Introduction and Theoretical framework 1. 0 Introduction - - - - - - - - 1 1.1 Statement of the Problem - - - - - - 3 1.2 Hypotheses - - - - - - - - 7 1.3 Objectives of the Study - - - - - - 7 1.4 Research Questions - - - - - - 8 1.5 Operationalization of Key Variables - - - - - 8 1.6 Theoretical Framework - - - - - - 18 1.7 Literature Review - - - - - - 26 1.7.1 Democracy and Political Participation - - - - 26 1.7.2 Political Parties and Democratic Politics - - - - 29 v University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 1.7.3 Political Party Financing and Democratic Politics - - - 35 1.7.4 Party Financing and Democratic Politics in New Democracies - 40 1.7.5 Political Party Funding and Democratic Politics in Ghana - - 47 1.8 Research Methodology - - - - - - 52 1.9 Significance of the Study - - - - - 67 1.10 Limitation of the Study - - - - - - 68 1.11 Organization of Work - - - - - - 70 Chapter Two: The Historical Analysis of Political Party Funding In Ghana 2.0 Introduction - - - - - - - - 72 2.1 The Evolution of Political Parties in the Gold Coast: 1948-1957 - 72 2.2 The Development of Party Politics: 1957-1966 - - - 76 2.3 The Development of Party Politics: 1969-1972 - - - 78 2.4 The Development of Party Politics: 1979-1981 - - - 79 2.5 Party Funding under the CPP Government - - - - 82 2.6 Party Funding under the Second Republic - - - - 88 2.7 Party Funding under the Third Republic - - - - 90 2.5 Conclusion - - - - - - - - 97 vi University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh Chapter Three: The Legal and Institutional Framework for Party Financing in Ghana 3.0 Introduction - - - - - - - - 100 3.1 The Institutional Framework of the State - - - - 100 3.2 The Matrix of Political Finance Law - - - - 102 3.2.1 Regulations on Limits - - - - - - 103 3.2.2 Regulations on Bans - - - - - - 108 3.2.3 Regulations on Disclosure - - - - - - 114 3.2.4 Regulations on Reporting and Enforcement - - - - 125 3.3 Conclusion - - - - - - - - 129 Chapter Four: Sources of Funding to Political Parties under the Fourth Republic of Ghana 4.0 Introduction - - - - - - - - 132 4.1 Analysis of the Sources of Party Funding - - - - 133 4.2 The Major Sources of Funding - - - - - 135 4.3 Other Relevant Sources - - - - - - 161 4.4 Utilization of Party Funds - - - - - - 166 4.5 Conclusion - - - - - - - - 168 vii University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh Chapter Five: Contextual Variables and Financing of Political Parties in Ghana 5.0 Introduction - - - - - - - - 170 5.1 Political Patronage: Clientelistic and Neopatrimonial Politics - 170 5.2 Political Victimization - - - - - - 174 5.3 Socio-Economic Factors - - - - - - 177 5.4 Lack of transparency and accountability - - - - 181 5.5 Organizational capacity of political parties - - - - 183 5.6 Religious and cultural beliefs - - - - - 186 5.7 Conclusion - - - - - - - - 188 Chapter Six: The Impact of Party Funding on Internal Party Democracy 6.0 Introduction - - - - - - - - 190 6.1. Descriptive Analysis of Dependence on Party Financial Contributors 190 6.2 Influence of Wealthy Members of Political Parties - - - 195 6. 3 Internal Rules of Party Membership and Election - - - 197 6.4 Payment of Membership Dues for Delegates - - - - 202 6.5 Imposition of Candidates on the Party - - - - 204 6.6 Condoning Vote Buying - - - - - - 205 6.7 Test of Hypothesis - - - - - - - 206 6.8 Party Funding and Internal Party Democracy - - - - 211 6.9 Conclusion - - - - - - - - 226 viii University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh Chapter Seven: Summary and Conclusions 7.0 Introduction - - - - - - - - 228 7.1 Summary of Key Findings - - - - - - 228 7.2 Implications of the Findings for Democratic Party Politics - - 236 7.3 Recommendations - - - - - - - 237 7.4 Conclusion - - - - - - - - 242 Notes - - - - - - - - - 245 Bibliography - - - - - - - - 272 Appendix “A” List of Registered Political Parties - - 292 Appendix “B” Survey Questionnaire - - - - - 294 Appendix “C” Interview Guide - - - - - 298 ix University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh List of Tables Table 1.1: Interviewees from political party card holding members and politician 55 Table 1.2 Relevant Public Institutions - - - - - 56 Table 1.3 Civil Society Organizations - - - - - 56 Table 1.4: Membership Status of Respondents - - - - 63 Table 1.5: Membership positions and Political Parties - - - 64 Table 1.6: Regional Distribution of Respondents - - - - 65 Table 3. 1: Law to limit the contribution of individuals and companies - 105 Table 3. 2 Disclosure of income by Political Parties - - - - 117 Table 3.3 Disclosure of income by Members of Political Parties - - 117 Table 3. 4. Disclosure of Expenditure by Political Parties - - - 118 Table 3. 5 Disclosure of Expenditure by Members of Political Parties - 118 Table 3.6: Political Parties Compliance with Disclosure Rules - - 120 Table 4.1: Source of Political Party Financing (2005 – 2012) - - - 134 Table 4. 2: Major sources of income by Parties (cross tabulation) - - 138 Table 4.3: Major sources of Income by Position in Parties - - - 139 Table 4. 4: Suggestions by Respondents to Improve Party Financing - 150 Table 4.5: Allocation of State-owned Vehicles to Political Parties, 1992-2012 156
Recommended publications
  • A Consociational Analysis of the Experiences of Ghana in West Africa (1992-2016) Halidu Musah
    Democratic Governance and Conflict Resistance in Conflict-prone Societies : A Consociational Analysis of the Experiences of Ghana in West Africa (1992-2016) Halidu Musah To cite this version: Halidu Musah. Democratic Governance and Conflict Resistance in Conflict-prone Societies : A Conso- ciational Analysis of the Experiences of Ghana in West Africa (1992-2016). Political science. Université de Bordeaux, 2018. English. NNT : 2018BORD0411. tel-03092255 HAL Id: tel-03092255 https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-03092255 Submitted on 2 Jan 2021 HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. UNIVERSITÉ DE BORDEAUX THÈSE PRÉSENTÉE POUR OBTENIR LE GRADE DE DOCTEUR EN SCIENCE POLITIQUE DE L’UNIVERSITÉ DE BORDEAUX École Doctorale SP2 : Sociétés, Politique, Santé Publique SCIENCES PO BORDEAUX Laboratoire d’accueil : Les Afriques dans le monde (LAM) Par: Halidu MUSAH TITRE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE AND CONFLICT RESISTANCE IN CONFLICT-PRONE SOCIETIES: A CONSOCIATIONAL ANALYSIS OF THE EXPERIENCES OF GHANA IN WEST AFRICA (1992-2016) (Gouvernance démocratique et résistance aux conflits dans les sociétés enclines aux conflits: Une analyse consociationnelle des expériences du Ghana en Afrique de l'Ouest (1992-2016)). Sous la direction de M. Dominique DARBON Présentée et soutenue publiquement Le 13 décembre 2018 Composition du jury : M.
    [Show full text]
  • The Role of the Supreme Court in the Development of Constitutional Law in Ghana
    THE ROLE OF THE SUPREME COURT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CONSTITUTIONAL LAW IN GHANA by SETH YEBOA BIMPONG-BUTA i THE ROLE OF THE SUPREME COURT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CONSTITUTIONAL LAW IN GHANA by SETH YEBOA BIMPONG-BUTA Submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF LAW – LLD at the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA PROMOTER PROFESSOR B P WANDA 1 February 2005 ii ABSTRACT The Theme running through this Dissertation is intended to prove that the Supreme Court has a role to play in the promotion, enforcement and sustenance of a proper democratic system of government, good governance and fundamental human rights and freedoms in Ghana. The Study would therefore address the role of the Supreme Court in the development of Constitutional Law in Ghana, with particular emphasis on the court’s contribution to the underlying concepts of the Fourth Republican Constitution of 1992; the guiding principles of constitutional interpretation and the vexed issue of whether the court should adopt a mechanical and literal approach to the interpretation of the Constitution or adopt a liberal, beneficent and purposive approach. The Supreme Court has asserted in the locus classicus decision: Tuffuor v Attorney-General [1980] GLR 637 that the 1979 Constitution as the supreme law, must be construed as a living political document capable of growth. Is there any evidence now to support that claim? The study shall also investigate the question of the power of the Supreme Court to review legislative and executive action. We shall also examine the role of the Supreme Court in the interpretation and enforcement of the Constitution and Fundamental Human Rights and Freedoms in relation to the rights and obligations of the individual and the State with the view to achieving good governance.
    [Show full text]
  • Combating Public Sector Corruption in Ghana: the Case of the Public Procurement Act (2003) Act 663 by Pabia Isaac This Thesis
    University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh COMBATING PUBLIC SECTOR CORRUPTION IN GHANA: THE CASE OF THE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT ACT (2003) ACT 663 BY PABIA ISAAC THIS THESIS IS SUBMITTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF GHANA, LEGON IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF MPHIL POLITICAL SCIENCE DEGREE JUNE, 2013 University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh DECLARATION I hereby declare that this thesis is the result of my own original work and that no part of it has been presented for another degree in this university or elsewhere. I further declare that with the exception of quotes, ideas and analysis attributed to acknowledged sources, this study is the result of research dutifully conducted under the supervision of my supervisor, Dr. Emmanuel Debrah. I am solely responsible for any errors which may be identified in this work. ………………………………. PABIA ISAAC (CANDIDATE) …………………………. DATE …………………………….. DR. EMMANUEL DEBRAH (SUPERVISOR) ………………………….. DATE i University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh ABSTRACT This study sets out to assess the capacity of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663) to combat public sector corruption in Ghana. The study notes that the Act has encouraged competition among bidders for public contracts and enhanced the level of transparency at the tendering process. Structures have been created to harmonise the procurement process to ensure judicious use of public funds. The law has standardized procurement procedures in the public sector. However, the study observed politicisation in the procurement process and manipulation of the tendering process by public officials and contractors. Procurement entities rarely adhere to guidelines set by the Act.
    [Show full text]
  • Forei Gn Policy Under Military Rule in Ghana, 19
    FOREIGN POLICY UNDER MILITARY RULE IN GHANA, 19 6 6 - 1982 Akylnba Kofi Etsiah A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of Arts U n ive rsity o f the W itwatersrand, Johannesburg fo r the Degree o f Master o f A rts Johannesburg 1985 DECLARATION I declare that this dissertation is my own, unaided work. It is being submitted for the degree of Master of Arts in the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. It has not been submitted before for any degree or examination in any other University. Akyinba Kofi E' • 'rh "•X2- day of _____ , (* (A. u i n ^ {/ 1985 ABSTRACT This study examines the performance of the three mili­ tary regimes that ruled Ghana during the period, 1966 - 1982. The analysis would seem to suggest that, contrary to post-covp rhetoric and expectations, military regimes are, in general, poor economic and political perfor­ mers. In the field of foreign policy, a rational foreign policy based on an even balance between Ghana's national interest and its actual and potential power eluded the country under the three regimes. The study is exploratory, designed to contribute a better empirical base to the field of study and to formulate a preliminary theoretical proposition, namely that, in Ghana, the foreign policy formulation and conduct of military officers tends to vary accor­ ding to differences in their reference group identifi­ cations and these in turn, vary according to differen­ ces in the professional socialisation process under­ gone by the country's officer corps. To the degree that the professional socialisation of officers differs, or to the degree that it changes over time, differences can be expected in the nature of Ghana's foreign policy under military rule.
    [Show full text]
  • History of Ghana Advisory Board
    THE HISTORY OF GHANA ADVISORY BOARD John T. Alexander Professor of History and Russian and European Studies, University of Kansas Robert A. Divine George W. Littlefield Professor in American History Emeritus, University of Texas at Austin John V. Lombardi Professor of History, University of Florida THE HISTORY OF GHANA Roger S. Gocking The Greenwood Histories of the Modern Nations Frank W. Thackeray and John E. Findiing, Series Editors Greenwood Press Westport, Connecticut • London Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Cocking, Roger. The history of Ghana / Roger S. Gocking. p. cm. — (The Greenwood histories of the modern nations, ISSN 1096-2905) Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index. ISBN 0-313-31894-8 (alk. paper) 1. Ghana—History. I. Title. II. Series. DT510.5.G63 2005 966.7—dc22 2004028236 British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data is available. Copyright © 2005 by Roger S. Gocking All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, by any process or technique, without the express written consent of the publisher. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2004028236 ISBN: 0-313-31894-8 ISSN: 1096-2905 First published in 2005 Greenwood Press, 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881 An imprint of Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc. www.greenwood.com Printed in the United States of America The paper used in this book complies with the Permanent Paper Standard issued by the National Information Standards Organization (Z39.48-1984). 10 987654321 Contents Series Foreword vii Frank W. Thackeray and John
    [Show full text]
  • Urban-Bias and the Roots of Political Instability
    Urban-bias and the Roots of Political Instablity: The case for the strategic importance of the rural periphery in sub-Saharan Africa By Beth Sharon Rabinowitz A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science in the Graduate Division of the University of California, Berkeley Committee in Charge: Professor Steven K. Vogel, Chair Professor Michael Watts Professor Robert Price Professor Catherine Boone Fall 2013 COPYRIGHT Abstract Urban-bias and the Roots of Political Instablity: The case for the strategic importance of the rural periphery in sub-Saharan Africa By Beth Sharon Rabinowitz Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science University of California, Berkeley Professor Steven K. Vogel, Chair Urban-bias and the Roots of Political Instability: the case for the strategic importance of the rural periphery in sub-Saharan Africa seeks to unravel a conundrum in African politics. Since the 1980s, we have witnessed two contradictory trends: on the one hand, coups, which have become rare events world-wide, have continued to proliferate in the region; concurrently, several African countries – such as Ghana, Uganda, Burkina Faso and Benin – have managed to escape from seemingly insurmountable coup-traps. What explains this divergence? To address these contradictory trends, I focus initially on Ghana and Cote d‟Ivoire, neighboring states, with comparable populations, topographies, and economies that have experienced contrasting trajectories. While Ghana suffered five consecutive coups from the 1966 to 1981, Cote d‟Ivoire was an oasis of stability and prosperity. However, by the end of the 20th century, Ghana had emerged as one of the few stable two-party democracies on the continent, as Cote d‟Ivoire slid into civil war.
    [Show full text]
  • Election-Related Conflicts in Africa: a Comparative Study of Ghana and Kenya
    Wright State University CORE Scholar Browse all Theses and Dissertations Theses and Dissertations 2012 'Counting Votes and Bodies,' Election-Related Conflicts in Africa: A Comparative Study of Ghana and Kenya Ibrahim Mahama Nambiema Wright State University Follow this and additional works at: https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/etd_all Part of the International Relations Commons Repository Citation Nambiema, Ibrahim Mahama, "'Counting Votes and Bodies,' Election-Related Conflicts in Africa: A Comparative Study of Ghana and Kenya" (2012). Browse all Theses and Dissertations. 1088. https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/etd_all/1088 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses and Dissertations at CORE Scholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in Browse all Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of CORE Scholar. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ‘COUNTING VOTES AND BODIES,’ ELECTION-RELATED CONFLICTS IN AFRICA: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF GHANA AND KENYA. A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts By IBRAHIM MAHAMA NAMBIEMA M.A. (Governance and Leadership), Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA, Accra), 2007 2012 Wright State University WRIGHT STATE UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL July 2, 2012 I HEREBY RECOMMEND THAT THE THESIS PREPARED UNDER MY SUPERVISION BY IBRAHIM MAHAMA NAMBIEMA ENTITLED ‘COUNTING VOTES AND BODIES,’ ELECTION-RELATED CONFLICTS IN AFRICA: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF GHANA AND KENYA BE ACCEPTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS. ________________________ December Green, Ph.D. Thesis Director ________________________ Laura M. Luehrmann, Ph.D. Director, Master of Arts Program in International and Comparative Politics Committee on Final Examination: ___________________________________ December Green, Ph.D.
    [Show full text]
  • The Role of the Supreme Court in the Development of Constitutional Law in Ghana
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Unisa Institutional Repository THE ROLE OF THE SUPREME COURT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CONSTITUTIONAL LAW IN GHANA by SETH YEBOA BIMPONG-BUTA i THE ROLE OF THE SUPREME COURT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CONSTITUTIONAL LAW IN GHANA by SETH YEBOA BIMPONG-BUTA Submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF LAW – LLD at the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA PROMOTER PROFESSOR B P WANDA 1 February 2005 ii ABSTRACT The Theme running through this Dissertation is intended to prove that the Supreme Court has a role to play in the promotion, enforcement and sustenance of a proper democratic system of government, good governance and fundamental human rights and freedoms in Ghana. The Study would therefore address the role of the Supreme Court in the development of Constitutional Law in Ghana, with particular emphasis on the court’s contribution to the underlying concepts of the Fourth Republican Constitution of 1992; the guiding principles of constitutional interpretation and the vexed issue of whether the court should adopt a mechanical and literal approach to the interpretation of the Constitution or adopt a liberal, beneficent and purposive approach. The Supreme Court has asserted in the locus classicus decision: Tuffuor v Attorney-General [1980] GLR 637 that the 1979 Constitution as the supreme law, must be construed as a living political document capable of growth. Is there any evidence now to support that claim? The study shall also investigate the question of the power of the Supreme Court to review legislative and executive action.
    [Show full text]
  • How Do Voters Decide? a Study of the Determinants of Voting Behavior in Ghana
    Wright State University CORE Scholar Browse all Theses and Dissertations Theses and Dissertations 2018 How Do Voters Decide? A Study of the Determinants of Voting Behavior in Ghana Richard Boateng Antwi Wright State University Follow this and additional works at: https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/etd_all Part of the International Relations Commons Repository Citation Antwi, Richard Boateng, "How Do Voters Decide? A Study of the Determinants of Voting Behavior in Ghana" (2018). Browse all Theses and Dissertations. 2225. https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/etd_all/2225 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses and Dissertations at CORE Scholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in Browse all Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of CORE Scholar. For more information, please contact [email protected]. HOW DO VOTERS DECIDE? A STUDY OF THE DETERMINANTS OF VOTING BEHAVIOR IN GHANA. A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts By RICHARD BOATENG ANTWI B.A, University of Ghana, 2013 2018 Wright State University WRIGHT STATE UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL December 06, 2018 I HEREBY RECOMMEND THAT THE THESIS PREPARED UNDER MY SUPERVISION BY Richard Boateng Antwi ENTITLED How Do Voters Decide? A Study of the Determinants of Voting Behavior in Ghana BE ACCEPTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF Master of Arts. ______________________________ December Green, Ph.D. Thesis Director ______________________________ Laura M. Luehrmann, Ph.D. Director, Master of Arts Program in International and Comparative Politics Committee on Final Examination: ________________________ _______ December Green, Ph.D.
    [Show full text]
  • Electoral Commission of Ghana, with Support of the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Accra November, 2005
    ELECTIONS 2004 ELECTIONS 2004 Ghana´s Parliamentary and Presidential Elections GHANA’S PARLIAMENTARY AND PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS 2004 Published by the Electoral Commission of Ghana, with support of the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Accra November, 2005 ISBN: Printed & designed by O’mens graphix, Accra www.omens-graphix.com Tel. 021-238098 CONTENT 1. The 2004 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections by the Electoral Commission of Ghana 1 Foreword . .2 Part 1 - The Electoral System . .3 Part 2 - Preparations towards the Holding of the 2004 General Elections . .9 Part 3 - The Contest and the Contestants . .28 Part 4 - Election Supervision, Monitoring and Observation . .71 2. Voting Patterns in the 2004 Elections by Joseph R.A. Ayee 79 Introduction . .80 Part 1 - The Concept of Ethnicity . .81 Part 2 - Manifestations of Ethnicity in Ghanaian Politics since Independence . .83 Part 3 - Voting Patterns in the 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004 Elections . .88 Part 4 - Conclusions: Explaining the Voting Patterns and the Lessons . .90 References . .98 3. Changes in Voting Patterns and Behaviours in Ghana’s 2004 General Elections by Dr. A. Essuman-Johnson 99 Change in Voting Patterns in Ghana’s 2000 and 2004 General Elections . .100 Explaining the shift from NDC to NPP: 2000 Elections . .103 The Poverty Factor . .105 The voting pattern in Ghana’s 2004 elections . .106 The Gender Factor . .109 Some Conclusions . .112 References . .113 4. Parliamentary Election Results by the Electoral Commission of Ghana 115 for Region ASHANTI . .117 for Region BRONG AHAFO . .131 for Region CENTRAL . .141 for Region EASTERN . .149 for Region GREATER ACCRA . .161 for Region NORTHERN . .173 for Region UPPER EAST .
    [Show full text]
  • Manifestos and Agenda Setting in Ghanaian Elections1
    4 Manifestos and Agenda Setting in Ghanaian Elections1 Joseph R. A. Ayee Introduction There is a longstanding scholarly debate over the factors that influence electoral outcomes or voter behaviour in elections globally (Downs 1957; Blais 2000; Schram 1991; Butler & Stokes 1974; Kanazawa 1998:974-995; Geys 2006:16-35; Kiewiet & Mattozzi 2008:313-326; Caplan 2007). In his seminal work in 1957, Downs, for instance, argued that voters in established democracies choose a party or candidate on the basis of the benefits that they are likely to enjoy when that party or candidate wins power. This is the ‘rational-choice’ perspective. In other words, electoral choices are based on the policies, ideologies and philosophies of the parties. Other factors that are known to influence voter behaviour include party identification, social background and psychology, lifelong attachment to parties and candidates’ or parties’ records (Butler and Stokes 1974). With regard to elections in Africa, however, many scholars (Bates 1974:457-484; Horowitz 1985 and 1991; Lonsdale 1994; Chabal & Daloz 1999; Young 2002; Posner 2005) have attributed the voting behaviour of the electorate to ethnicity or what Lonsdale (1994) referred to as ‘political tribalism’. Emphasizing the role of identity politics and ethnicity, Horowitz (1985 and 1991) referred to elections in sub-Saharan Africa as ethnic ‘censuses’. As a contribution to the debate over the factors that influence electoral outcomes in Ghana, this chapter examines how manifestos of political parties have influenced their electoral fortunes. The paper uses the manifestos of the two dominant parties in Ghana’s Fourth Republic – the National Democratic Congress 84 Issues in Ghana’s Electoral Politics (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) – as case studies.
    [Show full text]
  • Ugspace.Ug.Edu.Gh
    University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN BONGO AND BOLGATANGA CONSTITUENCIES, 2000-2008 BY MARVIN BANG-GESINA AYOO (10223647) THIS THESIS IS SUBMITTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF GHANA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF MPHIL POLITICAL SCIENCE DEGREE JULY, 2013 i University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh DECLARATION I, Marvin Bang-Gesina Ayoo, do hereby declare that apart from documentary and other sources cited and acknowledged in this study, I am duly and solely responsible for the authorship of this study carried out under the guidance and supervision of Professor A. Essuman-Johnson and Dr. Emmanuel Debrah. I further declare that, this work has not been submitted in part or whole for the award of another degree elsewhere. ------------------------------- Date…………….. Marvin Bang-Gesina Ayoo (Candidate) -------------------------------- Date…………….. Professor A. Essuman-Johnson (Principal Supervisor) -------------------------------- Date…………… Dr. Emmanuel Debrah (Co- Supervisor) i University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh ABSTRACT Elections in Ghana have produced many interesting outcomes. The need for either a change or continuity in the administration of a country or a constituency depends on the voters’ choice in an election. An understanding of what informs the voter’s choice in an election and how the voter exercises this franchise constitute the benchmark of this study. Voters in Bolgatanga and Bongo constituencies have voted for the NDC in the six presidential elections since 1992 and their choice have been influenced by the growing number of developmental projects initiated and executed by the NDC such schools, rural electrification, roads, construction of market centres and other health facilities provided by the NDC administration.
    [Show full text]