Strongmen and democratic consolidation: The Ghanaian experience

On 7 January 2001, Ghanaians witnessed their first turnover of power within democracy. Noting this landmark, this thesis offers a comprehensive analysis of democratic consolidation in Ghana. Is it fair to discuss consolidation in a country whose republic is so young? Settling on an open-ended process-oriented definition of democratic consolidation, this thesis concludes that the Ghanaian democracy is indeed strengthening its defenses against undemocratic forces. What are the factors that have contributed to Ghana's democratic consolidation and what are the potential threats? Juan Linz and Alfred Stepan's model of consolidation is used to examine the Ghanaian state and polity for signs of democratic acceptance. This thesis concludes that pro-democratic forces within Ghanaian society have taken advantage of the stability provided by the republic's decidedly undemocratic first president to strengthen their country's democracy. They have made significant democratic improvements in civil and political society but continue to struggle with grinding poverty and an ineffectual civil service.