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GOVERNANCE NEWSLETTER A Publication of The Institute of Economic Affairs Vol. 21 No. 1 January/February 2016 PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION: A SOLUTION TO WINNER-TAKES-ALL POLITICS IN GHANA? The Winner – Takes- All (WTA) Politics the IEA WTA Advisory Committee and the project is an initiative of the Institute of Board. Economic Affairs (IEA). The WTA project A copy of the Winner -Takes -All Politics forms part of a larger governance research report was submitted to The President of project which dates back to 2014. The aim of Ghana and disseminated to key stakeholders. this project is to promote a “More inclusive and All subsequent papers on the subject including accountable system of Governance in Ghana'. this paper have been developed based on At the end of an almost two year consultation themes/issues identified in the final report. and research process a report was produced by Presented by Dr. Ransford Gyampo1 Summary This paper is the first in a series of publications aimed at contributing to the debate over the “winner-takes-all” politics in Ghana. It discusses the winner-takes-all as an electoral formula within the context of Ghanaian politics. It highlights the dangers of the winner-takes-all politics such as the marginalization of perceived political opponents and the feeling of exclusion from the governance process by those who do not belong to the ruling party. The paper argues further that the winner-takes-all politics undermines the quest for national development, cohesion and the drive towards democratic maturity and consolidation. In proffering policy recommendations, the paper critically examines proportional representation as one possible mechanism for ensuring inclusive governance and dealing with some of the challenges associated with the winner-takes-all politics. Governance Newsletter is a bi-monthly publication of The Institute of Economic Affairs,Ghana, an independent public policy institute. This edition is sponsored by the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA). Subscriptions to the Governance Newsletter are made available to those who make IEA contributions to The IEA. Address all correspondence to: Ghana The Editor, The Institute of Economic Affairs, P. O. Box OS 1936, Accra. Tel. +233-302 244716/ 226333 / 226359 / 226388 / 030 7010713/4. Fax:+233-302-222313. Email:[email protected] Website: www.ieagh.org ISBN 0855-2453 1. Introduction addition, parliamentary proceedings have been individuals, groups and classes of persons from of economic advantages on only the rich. Ghana's 1992 Constitution prescribed an fraught with frequent boycotts by the minority as a the spoils of political power, national governance Generally, post-electoral political transitions have arrangement for electoral competition and result of entrenched positions and frustrations as well as the conferment of economic advantages been the most stressful moments for many governance which leans on the winner-takes-all they experience from the majority (Oquaye, to only those who win political power (Hacker and countries in Africa. Victorious political parties (WTA) as a formula for the selection of leaders. 2014). Given the dangers of WTA politics, Pierson, 2010a; Attafuah, 2013; Hacker and after elections quickly "sweep the political and However, the WTA is not merely an electoral concerns have been raised by many Ghanaians Pierson, 2010a Abotsi, 2013; IEA, 2014). Viewing economic stakes" of the state as they consolidate formula for determining winners in elections; it about the need to address the problem. WTA politics purely from how it creates themselves in power (Abotsi, 2013). The process also entails two distinct but interrelated elements, inequality and confers economic advantages to of state capture moves in tandem with the ruthless namely, (a) "a single winner plurality voting In a series of papers, we will discuss in detail, the those in power, Hacker and Pierson (2010b) perpetration of a regime of victimization and system for majoritarian rule" and (b) the partisan operational meaning of WTA politics in the argued that WTA politics occurs when the ruling recrimination against political “enemies” in monopolization of state resources and exclusion Ghanaian context, its incidence, as well as the class undermines workers' rights and ability to opposing political parties and their associates in of political opponents from national governance. possible measures that could be implemented to unionize in a manner that reduces wage equality, business, industry and commerce (IEA, 2014). It is in this second regard that the WTA is reduce its negative effects in Ghana. Data and creates economic insecurity among people, as The Ghanaian experience of WTA politics is akin considered most problematic as it manifests as "a information for this exercise were generated from well as down-plays the well being of the poor. One to what pertains in some developing countries zero-sum tendency in politics" characterized by a series of nation-wide public consultations on way to curb this situation is the kind of reforms particularly of African origin (Dennis, 2007). It marginalization and exclusion of actors in WTA politics held by the Institute of Economic that ensure that the interests of all citizens are entails "state capture"4 or the partisan opposing groups from access to monetary and Affairs between 2013 and 2014. Secondary reflected in public policy (Hacker and Pierson, monopolization of state resources, facilities and non-monetary resources. sources such as desk review were used to augment 2010b). Contrary to conventional wisdom, the opportunities, as well as the exclusion of political information from the public consultations. dramatic increase in inequality of income in opponents from national governance (Attafuah, The framers of the relatively liberal, competitive developed countries like the United States (US) 2013; Abotsi, 2013; IEA 2014). Since the and democratic 1992 Constitution might Series One of the Institute of Economics Affairs' has not been the natural and inevitable result of inception of the Fourth Republic in 1992, WTA reasonably have anticipated that a victorious (IEA) WTA Politics papers is devoted to increased competition from globalization, but politics has been a divisive syndrome that confers political party at the polls would reach out to proportional representation (PR) as a possible rather the deliberate work of political forces certain exclusive rights on the top party echelons opposition parties to promote cooperation and solution to WTA politics. It is divided into five (Hacker and Pierson, 2010a). Those at the very top and apparatchiks after elections to the neglect of collaboration for the national good (Abotsi, sections: Section One defines the concept of WTA of the economic ladder tend to develop and use the rest of the citizenry (Gyampo, 2010). The key 2013). However, the nation's experience of politics. Section Two critically examines WTA as political muscle to dramatically cut their taxes, effects of this anti-democratic and inhumane constitutional democratic dispensation over the a formula for selecting leaders and highlights its deregulate the financial industry, keep corporate system of political transition include compulsory distinction from WTA politics. Section Three governance lax and labor unions hamstrung past twenty-two years amply testifies that this retirements; dismissals (for instance, Apollo 568 lofty expectation has not materialized. Instead, discusses the causes of the WTA politics as well as (Hacker and Pierson, 2010b). Therefore, instead under the Busia government); termination of politicians in Ghana have interpreted the WTA its practical implications and dangers. In section of a rising tide lifting all boats, "yachts are rising, appointments; cancellations and withholding of beyond the confines of elections to a more literal Four, the paper undertakes a thorough review of but dinghies are largely staying put" in the US, and entitlements; forcible ejections from duty-post meaning that enables state resources to be used for proportional representation (PR) as a possible "there is reason to suspect that the dinghies are accommodation; wanton seizure of state vehicles political compensation to supporters and political solution to WTA politics. The concluding remarks staying put in part because the yachts are rising" and property in the care of political opponents by victimization of opponents and all others who do are contained in Section Five. (ibid: 20). Hacker and Pierson (2010a) argued party apparatchiks without recourse to due not belong to the ruling party as well as that governments over the past thirty years have process of law; reckless abrogation of contracts; “contemptuous disregard for the opposition”.2 In 1. Defining the Winner-Takes-All Politics "abandoned the middle class" in the US in favor of and wanton persecution of some real and this regard, elections have become “a do-or-die WTA, as indicated earlier, is not merely an making "the rich richer" by cutting taxes (estate perceived political opponents. These negative affair”3; political campaigns have been decidedly electoral formula for determining winners in and capital gains taxes) and tax rates for the tendencies are what many Ghanaians perceive as intense, fierce, ruthless, dirty, unyielding and elections. It is also a political mechanism for wealthy, and eliminating or preventing any symptoms of WTA politics. perpetual events in the four-year political cycle. In facilitating the inclusion and exclusion of countervailing
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