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Ghana: Democracy and Political Participation
22 June 2007
AfriMAP and OSIWA
Since civilian government was restored to Ghana in 1993, perhaps the country’s most notable achievement has been the progressive improvement of electoral management and the increasing acceptance of election results as fair by participants and observers alike. Oversight of governance by parliament and independent institutions has improved; participation of civil society in decision making has increased; and the independent media have flourished.
These are the conclusions of this report, based on a year’s field research coordinated, with its companion volume Ghana: Justice Sector and the Rule of Law, by the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG).
Nevertheless, there are important recommendations for action, including the need to ensure a greater level of independence for the Electoral Commission and to review the electoral system. In addition, the government should put in place a clear and overarching policy of openness in government.
The Africa Governance Monitoring and Advocacy Project (AfriMAP) is an initiative established in 2004 by the Soros Foundation Network’s four African foundations to monitor observance of standards relating to human rights, the rule of law and accountable government, by both African states and their development partners.
African states have undertaken increasing commitments to good governance since the African Union replaced the Organisation of African Unity in 2002. Among these commitments are the provisions of the Constitutive Act of the African Union, in which member states agree to promote human rights, democratic principles and institutions, popular participation and good governance. Other newly adopted documents include the New Partnership for Africa’s
Development (NEPAD) and the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), the Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption and the Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance. AfriMAP’s research is intended to facilitate and promote respect for these commitments by highlighting key issues, and providing a platform for national civil society organisations to engage in their own monitoring efforts.
AfriMAP’s methodology is based on standardised reporting frameworks that link respect for good governance and human rights, to development that benefits poor people. Through a process of expert consultation, AfriMAP has developed reporting frameworks in three thematic areas: the justice sector and the rule of law; democracy and political participation; and the effective delivery of public services. The questionnaires that result, among them the questionnaire on democracy and political participation that guided this report, are available at the AfriMAP website: www.afrimap.org.
The reports are elaborated by experts from the countries concerned in close collaboration with the Open Society Institute’s network of foundations in Africa and AfriMAP’s own staff. Drafts of this report were reviewed by a range of experts, with their comments and criticisms reflected in the final content. The aim is that the reports should form a resource both for activists in the country concerned, and for others working across Africa, to improve respect for human
rights and democratic values.
To access discussion paper:
http://www.afrimap.org/english/images/report/AfriMAP_Ghana_PolPartDD.pdf
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