CONTOURS OF AFRICAN DEMOCRACY: A NARRATIVE OF TAILORING GOVERNANCE TO LOCAL REALITIES– A GHANAIAN ODYSSEY

Abstract

Democracy, as a system of government where the people have a say in the running of the affairs of the state, has been advocated largely by Western intellectuals and policymakers alike. Having taken root and bearing roots in Europe and beyond, it seems democracy offers some sort of hope and opportunity. However, for the African continent, this hope and opportunity continue to elude the people. This paper argues as its central point that for democracy to work effectively, it needs to take into consideration the cultural and traditional landscape of the region, state, or area where it is being implemented. The paper mentions the subjective nature of democracy and where its features or characteristics intersect. Africa as a continent must see and view democracy as such and go on to feature their traditions in their respective states. The paper mentions the efforts Ghana made (although with little democratic dividends) towards this argument and what happened to it.