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The Role of Political Parties in the Democratization Process in West Africa: A Case Study of Ghana
Mends, Andrew
Mends, Andrew
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Abstract
This study examines the role of political parties in the democratization process in West Africa, using Ghana as a case study. Drawing on institutional theory, it analyzes how political parties function as key democratic institutions whose organization, inclusivity and internal discipline shape democratic consolidation beyond electoral procedures alone. The research adopts a qualitative case study approach, focusing on Ghana’s political development from independence to the Fourth Republic, with particular emphasis on the period from 1992 to 2024. Using secondary data from constitutional texts, electoral results, party manifestos, democracy indices and scholarly literature, the study evaluates the contribution of political parties to electoral legitimacy, peaceful transfers of power, citizen participation and institutional stability. The findings demonstrate that Ghana’s democratic resilience is closely linked to the institutionalization of its two dominant parties, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), which have anchored competitive politics and facilitated peaceful alternations of power. However, persistent challenges such as clientelism, elite dominance, weak internal party democracy and patronage, continue to limit democratic depth. The study concludes that sustainable democratization in West Africa depends not only on multiparty elections but on the continued institutional strengthening and internal reform of political parties.
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Master of International Affairs -- John Cabot University, Spring 2026.
Date
2026
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Mends_Andrew_MA_Thesis_SP26.pdf
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Democratization, Political parties, Ghana
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Mends, Andrew. "The Role of Political Parties in the Democratization Process in West Africa: A Case Study of Ghana". Master's Thesis, John Cabot University, Rome, Italy. 2026.
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Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International