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Managing Election-Related Violence for Democratic Stability in Ghana

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Managing Election-Related Violence for Democratic Stability in Ghana MANAGING ELECTION - RELATED VIOLENCE FOR DEMOCRATIC STABILITY IN GHANA Contents Acknowledgements…………………………………….v Preface......................................................................vi About the Editor and Authors……………….....……..viii List of Abbreviations and Acronyms…………………..xvi Chaper 1 Introduction……………………………………….……..23 Kwesi Aning and Kwaku Danso Chapter 2 Democracy on a Knife's Edge: Ghana's Democratization Processes, Institutional Malaise and the Challenge of Electoral Violence.....................................................................33 Kwaku Danso and Ernest Lartey Chapter 3 Negotiating Populism and Populist Politics in Ghana, 1949-2012…......................................................……..61 Kwesi Aning and Emma Birikorang Chapter 4 Fruitcake', 'Madmen', 'all-die-be-die': Deconstructing Political Discourse and Rhetoric in Ghana………………..97 Sarah Okaebea Danso and Fiifi Adu Afful Chapter 5 Inter- and Intra-Party Conflicts and Democratic Consolidation in Ghana...........................................................................140 John Mark Pokoo Chapter 6 Interrogating the Relationship between the Politics of Patronage and Electoral Violence in Ghana..................177 Afua A. Lamptey and Naila Salihu Chapter 7 Use of Abusive Language in Ghanaian Politics..............211 Gilbert K. M. Tietaah Chapter 8 Election Observation and Democratic Consolidation in Africa: The Ghanaian Experience.............................................241 Festus Kofi Aubyn Chapter 9 Gender, Elections and Violence: Prising Women out of Democracy in Ghana................277 Linda Darkwa Chapter 10 Exploring the Involvement of the Youth in Contemporary Ghanaian Politics..................................306 Mustapha Abdallah and Rhoda Osei-Afful Acknowledgements The Editors are grateful to all individuals and organizations who contributed in multiple and diverse ways towards the preparation and publication of this book. The Editors would like to express their sincere thanks to the contributing authors for their rich and insightful perspectives and also for their patience and commitment throughout the reviews. Special thank you to Mr Ernest Ansah Lartey for his immense support in completing the editorial process. Special mention must be made of the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), which took up the entire cost of printing the book. We would also like to thank Mr. N. Bentsi-Enchill for his meticulous work in making sure the book was ready for publication. It is our hope that this book will contribute to the consolidation of democracy in Ghana. V Preface Ghana is a 'beacon of hope' in Africa for its democratic laurels since it entered into multi party democratic elections in 1992. However, this enterprise have come along with its own effects (positive and negative) including Election related Violence. Election related violence has socio-cultural, political and economic consequences on nations if not managed well. These include for example lose of cultural identity; break in family ties; possible economic recession and hunger among others. Even though elections are not desired to end in conflicts and violence, it sometimes does and the ability to deal with it is very crucial to the stability of democracy in a nation. This book deals with how to manage election related violence. It examines the concept of electoral violence and its consequences on society. It also analyses inter and intra party conflicts and further looks at the linkage between politics and violence in Ghana. It looks at the use of abusive language in politics, election observation, gender related violence and the role of the youth in Ghanaian politics. On behalf of the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, I would like to congratulate Kwesi Aning and Kwaku Danso (Editors) and all VI other contributors to this wonderful piece of work as well as my colleagues at the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung. It is our hope that this publication would be widely used by researchers, political parties, policy makers and the general public. Daniela Kuzu Resident Director VII About the Editor and Authors Kwesi Aning Kwesi Aning is the Director and Dean of the Faculty of Academic Affairs and Research (FAAR) at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC). He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Copenhagen, Denmark where he taught for several years. Prior to taking this position in 2007, he served as the African Union's (AU) first Expert on Counter-terrorism and security based in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia Dr. Aning has varied experiences having served with the United Nations in New York and consulted for the United Nations Office for drugs and Crime (UNODC).He serves on several editorial boards and and has an extensive publication to his name. Emma Birikorang Emma Birikorang is a Senior Research Fellow at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), Accra, VIII Ghana. She is currently undertaking research on African Peace and Security Mechanisms and ECOWAS/AU regional peacekeeping frameworks. She also facilitates training modules on Security Sector Reform, Risk Assessment and Conflict Vulnerability and the ECOWAS Standby Force. She is currently a Doctoral Candidate at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. Kwaku Danso Kwaku Danso is a Research Associate at the Faculty of Academic Affairs and Research of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC). Kwaku holds an MSc in African Studies from the University of Edinburgh, UK, and a BA (Hons) in Political Science from the University of Ghana, Legon. His research interests include political violence, human security, conflict transformation, and Africa's emerging security architecture. Kwaku's key publications include: 'EU and AU Operations in Africa: Lessons Learned and Future Scenarios' in Pirozzi, N. (2010), Ensuring Peace and Security in Africa, Rome: IAI (with Dr Kwesi Aning); 'Envisioning a Future African Union: Exploring Collaborative Ventures with the EU & the UN' in IX Sharamo, R. and B. Mesfin, (2011), Regional Security in the Post- Cold War Horn of Africa, forthcoming, ISS, Pretoria) (with Dr. Kwesi Aning). Ernest Lartey Ernest Lartey is Head of the Conflict and Security Programme at the Faculty of Academic Affairs and Research of the KAIPTC. He has worked with the Research Department for three years. His research interests include: security sector reform, elections security, and post-conflict peacebuilding. Fiifi Edu-Afful Fiifi Edu-Afful is a faculty member and a Researcher at the Faculty of Academic Affairs and Research of the KAIPTC. He holds an MPhil in Development Studies and a BA in Political Science and Psychology from the University of Cape Coast and the University of Ghana, Legon, respectively. His current research interests include peacekeeping economies, gender and peacekeeping, peace and security in Africa, post-conflict reconstruction and election security. X Sarah Okaebea Danso Sarah Okaebea Danso is a researcher with the Faculty of Academic Affairs and Research at the KAIPTC. She is with the Regional Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) Programme. Sarah holds an MA in International Affairs (African Studies option) from Ohio University, Athens, USA (2010) and a BFA (Graphic Design option) from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana (2005). Sarah has over the last couple of years gained experience working in various capacities with different organizations and firms where she has undertaken research, developed concepts, and organized conferences/events. Her research interests include issues related to SALW proliferation, stockpile management, and elections/electoral violence, particularly in West Africa. John Mark Pokoo John Mark Pokoo has an MA in Contemporary War and Peace Studies (2004) from the University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom. Prior to this, he attended the University of Ghana where he graduated with a BA (Hons) in Political Science (2001). He also attended the Ghana Institute of Journalism (1997) and XI graduated with a Diploma in Journalism. In addition, John has a CrtMgmnt Professional Certificate in Management (Distance learning) from the Open University, United Kingdom (2003). John is currently the Head/Programme Coordinator for the Small Arms and Light Weapons Programme at the KAIPTC. He provides teaching, facilitation and training support to other programmes at the KAIPTC. He has written and published numerous research articles and reports and facilitated a number of conferences and workshops. Afua A. Lamptey Afua A. Lamptey is a Programme Officer with the Regional Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) training programme in the Faculty of Academic Affairs and Research, KAIPTC. Mrs. Lamptey holds an MPhil in International Affairs from the University of Ghana and a BA in Art from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). Over the past 10 years she has been actively involved in research and facilitation on peacebuilding and good governance issues including election observation, disarmament demobilization and reintegration, election management and SALW. Her research interests include peace, security and conflict issues especially in West Africa; small XII arms and light weapons; gender and conflict; elections and good governance. Naila Salihu Naila Salihu is a Programme and Research officer at KAIPTC. She holds an MPhil in International Affairs from the University of Ghana. Her research interest has been in conflict analysis, peacekeeping,
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