The Economy and Regime Change in Ghana, 1992-2004

Abstract

The Economy and Regime Change in Ghana, 1992-2004”, Ghana Social Science Journal Vols. 5&6 Nos. 1&2 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 the 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