When the year 2025 ends, Ghana will have been on this journey of democratisation for thirty-two years.
This journey of uninterrupted democratic governance is remarkable, especially as it comes at a time when West Africa appears to be facing some real challenges in protecting democracy in the sub-region.
In this opinion piece, I take time to reflect on some of the key democratic developments in Ghana during the year and the lessons it offers as we strive to secure the gains and address the challenges facing the country’s democracy.
Key developments
A newly democratically elected government.
The year began with the swearing in of a new government, elected in a generally free and fair election held in December 2024.
This marked the fourth turnover election since the country’s transition to democracy.
It illustrates two important things. First, the acceptance of the use of elections as a more peaceful path to changing governments.
This is notwithstanding some of the tensions and acts of violence experienced during election.Second and more importantly, it demonstrates the increasing recognition by the Ghanaian voter that elections serve as their most potent accountability tool when dissatisfied with an elected government’s performance. Challenging times
The removal of a sitting Chief Justice, the first in the 4th Republic, generated intense debate over whether the independence of the Ghanaian judiciary was being undermined.
This was further exacerbated by strong partisan divisions which continued and led to the minority New Patriotic Party (NPP) boycotting the vetting of a new Chief Justice.
There are new petitions asking for the removal of the Chair of the Electoral Commission and two deputies, as well as the Special Prosecutor.
Those petitions have been forwarded to the Chief Justice, and the public awaits whether there is a prima facie case which will trigger further proceedings in the removal process.As I have regularly argued, independent does not mean unaccountable.
The task facing the country is how to find the balance between protecting the independence of these constitutional bodies because of their role as a democratic safeguard while holding them accountable.
Hopefully, the constitutional review process will result in a strengthening of protective mechanism built into Article 146, which is the triggering mechanism for dealing with these types of officers.
Parliamentary acrimony
The 8th Parliament had moments of intense acrimony which I often attributed to the one-seat margin the majority party (NPP) held over the minority National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The 9th Parliament, with an NDC super majority, continues to experience the same, if not increased levels of intense acrimony between the majority and minority sides of the house.
The chaotic scene of a ministerial vetting and the destruction of property as far back as January was the clearest signal of what Ghanaians could expect in terms of the relationship between the NDC and the NPP.
The acrimony has continued and it does not appear it will end anytime soon.
However, it is my fervent hope that both sides of the political aisle will find points of reconciliation and forge ahead in a greater spirit of bipartisan cooperation.
Both sides have a responsibility in forging this bipartisan cooperation.
In democracies, a vibrant opposition political party is a useful safeguard against potential excesses by the ruling party.
However, an opposition viewed as constantly disruptive may not endear itself to the Ghanaian voter.
It also does not mean that a majority party should not recognise how its actions or inactions may unintentionally create an atmosphere of noncooperation.
Resetting the country
Throughout the 2024 election campaign, the current President emphasised the need to reset the country.It is no secret the different pinch points Ghanaians felt in the lead-up to the election.
The election results bear witness to how Ghanaians felt about the previous incumbent government.
In my view, a reset agenda that improves the country’s economy, strengthens its key governing institutions and makes significant progress in the fight against corruption will receive the applause of Ghanaians.
A reset agenda that does the opposite, especially if it weakens governing institutions, will trigger the opposite reaction.
The first year shows a presidency focused on resetting in a positive way.
Staying focused and dealing sternly with in-regime accountability are, for me, two important ways of ensuring that the government’s reset agenda will yield positive results.
The road ahead
These are a few of the many points of reflection for me as I think about the year 2025 and Ghana’s democracy journey.
As previously mentioned, these are trying times for West-Africa and the most recent attempted but failed coup d’etat serves as a wake-up call.
We must not only pay lip service to our democratic commitments but actively work on protecting and safeguarding them in perpetuity.
The writer is the Project Director, Democracy Project
