University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh CHANGING FORMS OF POLITICAL COMMUNICATION AND VOTER CHOICES IN GHANA’S ELECTIONS, 1992-2008 BY KWAME ASAH-ASANTE THIS THESIS IS SUBMITTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF GHANA, LEGON, IN FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF PhD POLITICAL SCIENCE DEGREE JUNE, 2015 University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh DECLARATION I certify that this thesis is, with the exception of specific quotations and references attributed to specified sources, my own original work, which I undertook at the Department of Political Science, University of Ghana, Legon, under the supervision of the undersigned. I bear personal responsibility for any limitation concerning the study. …………………………… Kwame Asah-Asante (Student) …………………………………….… Emeritus Prof Kwame Akon Ninsin (Lead Supervisor) ……………………………………….. Prof. Kwame Boafo-Arthur (Supervisor) ……………………………………….. Prof. Abeeku Essuman-Johnson (Supervisor) i University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated to: The memory of my parents –Kofi Asah-Asante and Agnes Oforiwa Sabu —whose support and direction have brought me this far; My wife, Akosua Asah-Asante, for her encouragement, literary contribution and emotional prop which were inestimable; and My children, Kwasi Asah-Asante, Afua Oforiwa Asah-Asante, Kwaku Frempong Asah- Asante, who are required to go beyond what I have done. ii University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh ACKNOWLEDGMENT I wish, first of all, to express my profound gratitude to God for His grace in seeing me through one of the most challenging periods of my life, as I worked on this doctoral thesis. I must confess that, but for His invaluable support, this thesis would not have become a reality. My heartfelt appreciation goes to my supervisors, Emeritus Prof. Kwame Ninsin, Prof. Kwame Boafo-Arthur, and Prof. Abeeku Essuman- Johnson. They committed themselves to ensure that this work bears the aura of excellence, by assisting me navigate through the tricky format of putting this work together. I would like also to thank colleague lecturers in the Department of Political Science at the University of Ghana and University of Education, Winneba, especially Dr. Evans Aggrey- Darkoh and Mr Isaac Brako who provided me with the inspiration that could come only from those who share in each other’s success. Deserving of mention are Messrs Jones Daniel Prah, Nana Akuffo Kwapong, Kwabena Darko, Samuel Kwabena Amoah, Sylvanus Nana Kumi, Edmund Odame Darko, Godfred Dokyi, Robert Owusu Nsiah and Emmanuel Tetteh Yartey whose moral and financial support were motivating factors that convinced me that the apparent insurmountable challenges notwithstanding, there is the inevitable light at the end of the tunnel. Special thanks go to Dr. Ezekiel Nortey, Dr. Inusah Abdul-Nasiru and Abena Anim Yeboah, of the Departments of Statistics, Psychology and Communication Studies, respectively, all of the University of Ghana, Legon, as well as Prof. David Sylvan, of the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva, for their pieces of advice which were of immense benefit to this study. I would like to place on record the generous sponsorship offered me for the project by the Association of African Universities. I cannot end this acknowledgement without paying tribute to Mr Mohammed Affum and his family for their humungous support given to me throughout the study. iii University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh ACRONYMS ACDR Association of Committees for the Defence of the Revolution ACP Action Congress Party AFRC Armed Forces Revolutionary Council AG Attorney-General APC All People’s Congress APP All People’s Party APRP All People’s Republican Party ARPB Association of Recognised Professional Bodies ARPS Aborigines Rights Protection Society AYO Anlo Youth Organisation BBC British Broadcasting Corporation CDD Centre for Democratic Development COG Commonwealth Observer Group CPP Convention People’s Party DFP Democratic Freedom Party DPP Democratic People’s Party EC Electoral Commission iv University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh ECG Electoral Commission of Ghana FC Fanti Confederacy FF Freedom Forum FM Frequency Modulation GA Great Alliance GAP Ghana Action Party GBC Ghana Broadcasting Corporation GCBS Gold Coast Broadcasting System GCP Ghana Congress Party GCYCU Gold Coast Youth Conference Union GDP Ghana Democratic Party GJA Ghana Journalists’ Association GNA Ghana News Agency GNP Ghana National Party GTV Ghana Television ICT Information Communication Technology INEC Interim National Electoral Commission IPAC Inter-Party Advisory Committee v University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh ISD Information Services Department MAP Muslim Association Party MFWA Media Foundation for West Africa NAL National Alliance of Liberals NCA National Communication Authority NCBWA National Congress of British West Africa NDC National Democratic Congress NDC National Democratic Congress NIP National Independence Party NLCD National Liberation Council Decree NLM National Liberation Movement NMC National Media Commission NP Nationalist Party NPP New Patriotic Party NPP Northern People’s Party NRC National Redemption Council OAU Organisation of African Unity PAP People’s Action Party vi University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh PCP People’s Convention Party PDA Preventive Detention Act PDC People’s Defence Committees PHP People’s Heritage Party PNC People’s National Convention PNDC Provisional National Defence Council PNP People’s National Party POM Private-Owned Media PP Progress Party RP Republican Party RPP Reformed Patriotic Party SCS School of Communication Studies SDF Social Democratic Front SMC Supreme Military Council SMS Short Message Service SOM State–Owned Media SPC State Publishing Corporation TC Togoland Congress vii University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh TFP Third Force Party UGCC United Gold Coast Convention UNC United National Convention UNIGOV Union Government US United States WASU West African Students’ Union WAYL West African Youth League viii University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh LIST OF TABLES PAGE Table 1: Which issue in the campaign messages of the political parties influenced you most in deciding who to vote for during the 1992 elections?..........................................................150 Table 1A: Which issue in the campaign messages of the political parties influenced you most in deciding who to vote for in your constituency during the 1992 elections?....................156 Table 1B: Illiterate respondents and messages that influenced their electoral choices in the 1992 elections……………………………………………………………………………162 Table 1C: Respondents with up to senior high school education and messages that influenced their electoral choices in the 1992 elections……………………………………………..165 Table 1D: Respondents with tertiary education and messages that influenced their electoral choices in the 1992 elections……………………………………………………………..167 Table 1E: Which party’s slogan influenced you most in deciding who to vote for in your constituency during the 1992 elections?............................................................................171 ix University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh Table 1F: Illiterate respondents and party slogan that influenced their electoral choices in the 1992 elections……………………………………………………………………………174 Table 1G: Respondents with up to senior high school education and party slogan that influenced their electoral choices in the 1992 elections………………………………..175 Table 1H: Respondents with tertiary education and party slogan that influenced their electoral choices in the 1992 elections…………………………………………………………..176 Table 1J: Which of the following channels of communication did you rely upon in 1992 elections?........................................................................................................................178 Table 1K: Respondents’ educational background and the influence of state-owned radio on their electoral choices in their constituencies during the 1992 elections……………..179 Table 1L: Respondents’ educational backgrounds and the influence of state-owned television on their electoral choices in their constituencies during the 1992 elections………….181 Table 1M: Respondents’ educational backgrounds and the influence of state-owned newspapers on their electoral choices in their constituencies during the 1992 x University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh elections……………………………………………………………………………….182 Table 1N: Respondents’ educational backgrounds and the influence of private-owned newspapers on their electoral choices in their constituencies during the 1992 elections………………………………………………………………………………183 Table 1P: Respondents’ educational backgrounds and the influence of political rally on their electoral choices in their constituencies during the 1992 elections…………………184. Table 2: Which issue in the campaign messages of the political parties influenced you most in deciding who to vote for during the 2000 elections?.................................................185. Table 2A: Which issue in the campaign message of the political parties influenced you most in deciding who to vote for during the 2000 elections?............................................191 Table 2B: Illiterate respondents and messages that influence their electoral choices in the 2000 elections………………………………………………………………………197 xi University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh Table 2C: Respondents with up to senior high school education and messages that influenced their electoral choices in the 2000 elections………………………………………..199