Highlights
– Presidential elections conducted on December 7, 2008; however, tight race may require a run-off to determine winner
– President-elect will face many infrastructure, tribal violence and crime issues
– Previous government corruption will need to be addressed to combat organized crime in the region, gain further stability and promote economic investment
Largely peaceful and orderly elections were conducted in Ghana on December 7, 2008, marking the second consecutive presidential election convened to pass power from one elected leader to the next since 1992. This feat is no small accomplishment, as many other African nations have hosted democratic elections, only to have the elected official continue in office long after the term should have ended. Although the recent election in Ghana signaled a victory for the democratic process, the outcome has remained too close to call and may require a run-off election to determine who will become the next president.
The eventual presidential race winner—which is likely to be ruling party candidate Nana Akufo-Addo—will face a myriad of national issues, such as inadequate infrastructure, tribal violence and escalating organized crime, all of which are currently impacting the country.
Tight Race
According to local media reports on December 9, 2008, with one half of the votes counted ruling party candidate Nana Akufo-Addo currently leads the vote tally with a 49 percent lead over rival opposition party leader John Atta Mills, who has 47 percent of the vote. It is expected that the lead will continue to tighten and or change as additional results are tabulated from the candidate’s strongholds outside the capital city of Accra.
To avoid a run-off either candidate must obtain at least a required 50 percent majority, however because of the close race, a second election may be scheduled within three weeks. Already a shift has occurred in parallel parliament elections. The governing party had a clear majority before the polls, but afterwards has seen the situation become almost even between the liberal-leaning New Patriotic Party (NPP) of Akufo-Addo and Mills’ National Democratic Congress (NDC) opposition party.
Economic Gains Not Enough
Although the economy has grown by over five percent annually in recent years, and offshore oil reserves promise expanded wealth by 2010, many of Ghana’s citizens believe the increased national affluence has not helped ordinary citizens gain jobs, financial independence or stability. Concern regarding possible future disputes or corruption due to the oil revenues has many fearful the situation could spiral downwards such as experienced in the oil-rich Niger Delta region of Nigeria.
Additionally, widespread government corruption and rapidly increasing drug smuggling have flourished, while infrastructure development remains largely contained to the capital Accra. Several works projects in Accra, such as a new $50 million presidential palace financed by the Indian government, are backed by foreign business, including Chinese investors.
Drug smuggling within Ghana and the West Africa region has also flourished and paced at record numbers in the past few years. In total, West Africa cocaine seizures have doubled every year for the past three years, with over 6,458 kilograms seized in 2007 alone. The area, once referred to as the Gold Coast, has been relabeled by locals as the ‘Cocaine Coast,’ with United Nations (UN) officials indicating that Ghana, along with neighbor Guinea-Bissau are becoming major conduits for cocaine originating in South America transiting to Europe. Such growth in criminal activities was used as a rallying point for the NDC in its campaign against the ruling party and candidate Akufo-Addo, as the NDC believes the current government has helped provide an environment for organized crime to take root.
Additional instability concerns remain regarding possible ethnic and tribal violence in some of the rural areas of Ghana, such as Bawku in the Northeast region. According to the director of the West African Network for Peacebuilding, “there are currently about 300 ongoing disputes at various levels of intensity, almost all related to the links between ethnicity, land, chieftaincy and politics.” Such disputes, though mostly peaceful, have at times escalated into violence between tribes and adversely impacted the local economies. In Bawku alone, almost 100 people have been killed in the past year due to tensions between the Kusasis and Mamprusis tribes.
On the Horizon
While democratic elections are seen as a continued positive sign for Ghana, the next president will be inheriting a country on the brink of both economic gains from new oil reserves, and possible instability due to inadequate employment. Additional concerns of increased tribal violence and crime, as well as lacking infrastructure development may contribute to an environment of tension and unease amongst the populous. Government corruption must also be addressed to regain the trust of the people. Unless a strong government can effectively manage and address the multiple issues facing Ghana’s future, the country is at risk of further instability.
