The Ghanaian election of 2008

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Periodical article

Title:	The Ghanaian election of 2008
Author:	Kelly, Bob
Year:	2009
Periodical:	Review of African Political Economy
Volume:	36
Issue:	121
Pages:	441-450
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Ghana
Subjects:	elections 2008
External link:	https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03056240903220613
Abstract:	The 2008 elections in Ghana took place in an uncertain economic and political environment. Interest in the elections was consequently at a very high level, with an electoral turnout of almost 70 percent. The closeness of the result reflects the intense competition that characterized the election, but together with the eventual victory of the erstwhile opposition party, it indicates the general 'fairness' and 'freeness' of the process. This article analyses the election results and the factors which lay behind the opposition's success. From the campaigns and the results it deduces some trends concerning the choice of candidate, ethnic rivalries, local developments, traditional disputes, party allegiance, and active support of local chiefs and, increasingly, youth. The article concludes that the peaceful handover of power shows that there is a general commitment to democracy and a desire to preserve the image of Ghana as a democratic and stable State. Bibliogr. [ASC Leiden abstract]