The evolution of the New Patriotic Party in Ghana

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Periodical article

Title:	The evolution of the New Patriotic Party in Ghana
Author:	Ayee, Joseph R.A.
Year:	2008
Periodical:	South African Journal of International Affairs
Volume:	15
Issue:	2
Pages:	185-214
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Ghana
Subjects:	New Patriotic Party party programmes party structure elections
External link:	https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10220460802614064
Abstract:	This paper examines the emergence and development of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) government in the context of a broader examination of the roles of political parties within the Ghanaian political landscape. After describing the political architecture as well as some significant constitutional issues of Ghana's democracy and the roles played by other societal stakeholders, the paper examines the rationale for the formation of the NPP, its manifesto, structure, constituency, power brokers. It then analyses various aspects of the implementation (or not) of the NPP's political and economic objectives since it came to power in 2000 with a message of 'positive change'. The electoral politics of the campaigns against its major opposition, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), and issues of regionalism, ethnicity and other factors at play in the 1992-1996, 2000 and 2004 elections are considered. The paper concludes with some lessons learned and generic recommendations for emerging African political parties in relatively young democracies. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. [Journal abstract]