Go to AfricaBib home

Go to AfricaBib home AfricaBib Go to database home

bibliographic database
Line
Previous page New search

The free AfricaBib App for Android is available here

Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:One-party State, no-party State, multi-party State? 35 years of democracy, authoritarianism and development in Ghana
Author:Haynes, J.ISNI
Year:1992
Periodical:The Journal of Communist Studies
Volume:8
Issue:2
Pages:41-62
Language:English
Geographic term:Ghana
Subjects:authoritarianism
democracy
Abstract:Ghana was the first sub-Saharan African country to attain independence in 1957. The victorious independence party, the Convention People's Party (CPP) led by Nkrumah, ruled with a Marxist orientation until 1966. During much of the 1970s, a 'no-party', economic-nationalist military regime held power. Since late 1981 the country has been ruled by the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) government of Flt.-Lt. Jerry Rawlings. At the onset of PNDC rule, the dominant ideology appeared to be a variant of Marxism-Leninism. Over the next ten years, however, the regime presided over a number of policy changes: the adoption of an IMF-supported economic recovery programme; political decentralization; multiparty politics. The regime introduced a democratic political system in 1988, based initially on district-level bodies, to be supplemented by a national-level assembly in 1993. This article describes Ghana as an example of the now general African retreat from 'dirigiste', quasi-socialist, politically authoritarian policies. Notes, ref., sum.
Views