The Economy and Regime Change in Ghana, 1992-2004

Abstract

The article examines the link between economic conditions and policies, on
one hand, and regime changes, on the other. Ghana’s politics, since independence has been shaped by events on the economic front more than the
popularized issues of ethnicity, regionalism and personal ambitions. Most of
the political transitions were to a large extent influenced by economic circumstances. The early military coups that destabilized the democratic order
appeared to have resulted from the unhappiness of army officers over rising
economic distress even though ideological and ambition factors were also
important determinants. Even the ‘third wave’ of democratization took
place within the context of economic crisis. The failure of the PNDC regime
to bring about early economic recovery engendered popular disillusionment
and heightened the agitations for the return to democratic rule. Postdemocratization politics mimics the pattern of economic influence over regime changes. The historic power alternation in 2000 happened against the
backdrop of poor economic performance by the NDC government. Macroeconomic instability including deteriorating living standards of the people
was blamed on the incumbent’s economic mismanagement. Consequently,
majority of Ghanaian voters effected a change of government hoping that
the new government would bring about improved economic and living
conditions.