Author: Isaac Nunoo

Affiliation: University of Cape Coast

Abstract: Utilizing interviews, documents (including party constitutions) and extant scholarship, this study examines the primaries of political parties in Ghana since the outset of the Fourth Republic. It particularly focuses on the two main parties in Ghana: the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress. The analysis underscores the nuanced interplay between democratic advancements and persistent challenges, defining Ghana’s political party primaries within the Fourth Republic. The study contends that the political parties in the multiparty system have dual character in Ghana’s democratic dispensation. While they indeed help to shape and consolidate democracy, their primaries (i.e. internal electoral processes) are often characterized by undemocratic tendencies and even extremisms. The analysis is also guided by the rationality framework. The findings reveal that party primaries in the Fourth Republic are complex and characterized by clientelism, monetization, lack of transparency, favouritism and self-seeking interest. Interestingly, while national constitutional rules are hardly violated, party rules are often breached and internal conflicts significantly compromise subsequent electoral outcomes, weakening party performance. This has mostly culminated in post-primary-election breakaways. It is recommended that political parties should endeavour to respect the rules governing their primary elections and embark on extensive and continues reforms to elevate or at least minimize the canker. 

Author: Shigeyuki Hanaoka 

Affiliation: University of Cambridge

Abstract: In sub-Saharan African countries, it has often been assumed that politics is greatly influenced by the ethnic identity of citizens and politicians. Many studies have been conducted on the relationship between ethnicity and party politics, and between conflict and ethnicity. However, not enough research has been conducted on how the impact of such ethnicity on politics changes over the medium to long term in Africa. The limited existing research suggests that the impact of ethnicity on party politics will diminish over the long term, while many studies suggest that conflict reinforces ethnic identity. This study analyzes the long-term impact of ethnicity on politics in Sierra Leone and Liberia, which experienced post-independence party politics, followed by civil war and a transition to a multi-party system. It shows that ethnicity salience developed in contrasting ways in the two countries. It also shows that the impact of ethnicity on party preferences did not change significantly in the post-conflict period in both countries, and that the post-civil war impact of ethnicity on party politics can be appropriately viewed as a re-emergence of the pre-civil war situation.

Authors: Thomas Isbell (Institute for Democracy, Citizenship and Public Policy in Africa) and Robert Nyenhuis (California State University, Pomona)

Abstract: In this paper we explore the continued success of the African National Congress (ANC) on election day by employing issue ownership theory. Despite the dismal track-record of the ANC Zuma-government and the continuing aftermath of the ‘lost- decade’, the ANC was able to maintain a national majority in 2019 and is likely to do so again in 2024. This is puzzling. Considering that many South Africans view the government’s performance very negatively according to representative survey data, it is puzzling that opposition parties have not been able to make more substantial in-rounds against the ANC’s majority. Recent research has demonstrated that perceived inclusivity and competence of opposition parties and opposition leaders may dissuade disgruntled ANC voters from switching their votes. We further this research by suggesting that issue position and issue ownership of opposition parties may also help explain the inability of these parties to win larger shares of votes. Using World Value Survey data we first show that the major opposition parties’ position on key economic issues does not represent the median voter and based on these issues alone are unlikely to capture substantial support. We then show the major opposition parties no longer provide clear alternatives to the ruling ANC on a number of key issues using nationally representative survey data collected in South Africa by Afrobarometer in 2015 (n= 2388) and 2021 (n =1600). By contrast, we find that smaller opposition parties appear to provide clearer delineations with the ruling ANC in the minds of South Africans.