Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, while establishing a framework for multi-party democracy, has faced several criticisms regarding its impact on political parties:
Flaws and Criticisms:
* Weak Internal Party Democracy: The Constitution and related laws do not adequately ensure internal democratic practices within political parties. This can lead to issues such as:
* Limited participation in primaries: Often, only certain categories of party members are allowed to vote in primary elections, restricting wider participation.
* Undue influence and manipulation: Party officials can exert undue influence, impose candidates, and manipulate procedures during internal elections.
* Monetization of internal elections: The unregulated use of money can determine the outcome of crucial primaries, disadvantaging candidates without significant financial resources.
* Lack of accountability to grassroots: Parties can become more beholden to wealthy financiers than their general membership.
* Excessive Partisanship and “Winner-Takes-All” System: The structure of governance, particularly the strong executive presidency, fosters intense partisanship. This can lead to:
* Polarization: Deep divisions between the two major parties (NDC and NPP) often overshadow policy consensus and national development.
* Marginalization of smaller parties: The dominance of the two major parties makes it difficult for smaller parties to gain significant traction and representation.
* Politicization of state institutions: Allegations of bias by state institutions, such as the Electoral Commission, towards the ruling party can undermine trust in the democratic process.
* Weak Regulation of Party Finance: While the Constitution requires political parties to declare their revenues and assets and publish audited accounts, enforcement mechanisms may be weak, leading to:
* Unregulated use of money: Concerns exist about the influence of unregulated money in elections and within political parties.
* Lack of transparency: The public may not have sufficient insight into the sources of party funding and how funds are used.
* Potential for corruption: Opaque financial practices can create opportunities for corruption and state capture by political elites.
* Regional and Ethnic Considerations: Despite constitutional prohibitions against ethnically or regionally based parties, political mobilization often takes on ethnic and regional dimensions. This can exacerbate social divisions and tensions.
* Limited Opportunities for Smaller Parties: The electoral system and the dominance of the two major parties create a challenging environment for smaller parties to compete effectively for power and representation.
* Weak Enforcement of Code of Conduct: While a code of conduct for political parties exists, there may be challenges in its effective enforcement, leading to issues like political vigilantism, inflammatory language, and disruptions of opponents’ activities.
General Information:
Ghana has a multi-party democratic system, with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) being the two dominant political forces since the Fourth Republic began in 1992. The Constitution guarantees the right to form and join political parties, subject to certain limitations such as the prohibition of parties based on ethnic, religious, regional, or other sectional divisions. The Electoral Commission is responsible for registering and overseeing the activities of political parties.
Efforts have been made over the years to address some of these flaws, including discussions about constitutional amendments and reforms to electoral laws and party financing regulations. However, many of these challenges persist and continue to be subjects of public and political debate in Ghana.
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Ghanamatters.com
