7 - The Youth and Political Ideology in Ghanaian Politics: The Case of the Fourth Republic
Corresponding Author(s) : Ransford Edward Van Gyampo
Africa Development,
Vol. 37 No. 2 (2012): Africa Development
Abstract
The youth of Ghana have played an important role in both local and national politics since the inception of the Fourth Republic. Among other things, they have served as the foot-soldiers and channels through which party manifestoes have been transmitted to the electorate and polling agents during registration and voting exercises. Through chanting of their party slogans and house-to- house campaign, the youth have often made the presence of their various parties felt across the country. In developed democracies, one key factor that motivates the youth in playing active role in politics is political ideology. This is because political ideology largely shapes the political future of the youth, especially students in tertiary institutions. Unfortunately, a brief survey shows that political ideology, though relevant, contributes little in whipping up support for political parties among the youth.
The article discusses the reasons for the seeming irrelevance of political ideology among the youth. It recommends massive campaign by political parties to educate the youth on their respective political ideologies, their relevance and the need to uphold them. It also stresses the need for party leaders themselves to insist on ideological purity in all th ir dealings with other parties to serve as an example for the youth to emulate.
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- Andrew, V., 1995, Modern Political Ideologies, London: Oxford University Press.
- Asante, R., 2006, ‘The Youth and Politics in Ghana: Reflections on 2004 General Elections’, in Boafo-Arthur, K., ed., Voting for Democracy in Ghana: The 2004 Elections in Perspective. 1, Accra: Freedom Publications Ltd, pp. 215-229.
- Austin, D., 1964, Politics in Ghana 1946-1960, London: Oxford University Press.
- Ahwoi, K., 2006, ‘The Youth as Responsible Future Party Leaders’, in Report on Ghana/Netherlands Inter-Party Youth Conference organised by The IEA at Akosombo, 27-29 October, pp.13-19.
- Asiamah, I., 2006, ‘The Youth and Organisation of Effective Political Parties’ in Report on Ghana/Netherlands Inter Party-Youth Conference organised by The IEA at Akosombo, 27-29 October, pp. 23-30.
- Awoonor, K., 1990, Ghana: A Political History from Pre European to Modern Times, Accra: Sedco Publishing Ltd, pp. 30-318.
- Bluwey, G.K., 2002, Political Science: An Introduction, Accra: Wilco Publicity Services Ltd, pp. 72-127.
- Bell, D., 2000, The End of Ideology, Second Edition, Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press.
- Burgers, T., 2003, ‘Youth and the Politics of Generational Conflicts’, paper presented at an International Conference organised by University of Leiden on 24 April, pp. 2-20.
- CDD-Ghana, 2005, Election 2004 Observation Report. The Ghana Centre for Democratic Development, pp 26-30.
- Chazan, N., 1978, ‘Political Culture and Socialization to Politics: A Ghanaian Case’, The Review of Politics 40(1):P January, pp.27-31.
- Chazan, Naomi, 1983, An Anatomy of Ghanaian Politics: Managing Political Recession,1969-1982, Boulder: Westview Press p 21.
- Dickson, K., 1968, ‘Background to the Economic Development of Northern Ghana’, Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 58(4), p.15.
- Diouf, Mamadou, 2003, ‘Engaging Post-Colonial Cultures: African Youth and Public Spheres’, African Studies Review 46 (2): September, pp.3-12.
- Durham, Deborah, 2000,. ‘Youth and the Social Imagination in Africa’, Anthropological Quarterly 73(3): July pp. 113-118.
- Downs, Anthony, 1957, An Economic System of Democracy, New York: Harpers and Row, p. 96.
- Eccleshall, R., Finlayson, A., Geoghegan, V., Kenny, M., Lloyd, M., Mackenzie, I., and Wilford, R., 1998, Political Ideologies, London: Routledge.
- Grant, Ruth, 1987, John Locke’s Liberalism, Chicago: Univ of Chicago Press, p.54.
- Heywood, Andrew, 2002, Politics, Palgrave: MacMillan Press, pp. 40-245.
- Knebel, A.G., 1937, ‘Leadership for Modern Youth’ Annals of the American
- Academy of Political and Social Science 194 (November), pp.174-188.
- Lentz, Carola, 1995, ‘Unity for Development: Youth Associations in North-Western Ghana’, Journal of the International African Institute 65(3) , pp.395-340.
- Kousoulas, D.G., 1975, On Government and Politics, Belmont: Duxbury Press, p.66.
- Konteh, R., 2007, ‘The Role of Youth in Ensuring Peaceful Elections’ in Report on Conference of West African Political Parties organised by The IEA in Accra, 2 April, p.18.
- Kramnick, I. and W., F., 1979, The Age of Ideology: Political Thought, 1750 to the Present, Second Edition, Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
- Ladouceur, P.A., 1979, Chiefs and Politicians: The Politics of Regionalism in Northern Ghana, London and New York: Longman Group Ltd, p.93.
- Lipset, S.M., 1969, Political Man, London: Heinemann.
- Miller, J.H., 1936, ‘Youth and the Future’ Journal of Higher Education 7 (5): May, pp.249-255.
- Marx, K., 1972, Early Texts, Oxford: Blackwell.
- Marx, K. and Engels, F., 1976, ‘The German Ideology’, Collected Works, Vol. 6, London: Lawrence and Wishart.
- National Democratic Congress, 2004, Manifesto. Accra: NDC.
- New Patriotic Party, 2004, Manifesto. Accra: NPP.
- Ntsebeza, L., 1993, ‘Youth in Urban African Township, 1945-1992: A Case Study of the East London Township’, Unpublished MA Thesis, Durban: University of Natal, Department of Economic History, pp. 163-166.
- Nwabuzor, J. and Muelle, M., 1985, An Introduction to Political Science for African Students, London: McMillan Press, p.104.
- Oakeshott, M., 1962, Rationalism in Politics and other Essays, London and New York: Methuen.
- Republic of Ghana, 2002, 2000 Population and Housing Census. Accra: Ghana Statistical Service.
- Richards, P., 1995, ‘Rebellion in Liberia and Sierra Leone: A Crisis of Youth?’ in Furley, O., ed., Conflict in Africa, London: Taurus Academy Studies,, p.224.
- Ritva, A., 1975, ‘Participation by Youth in Municipal Affairs’ Pedagogical Europaea 10(2), pp.117-125.
- Shillington, K., 1992, Ghana and the Rawlings Factor, London: Macmillan Press, p.42.
- Stewart, M., 1962, Modern Forms of Government London: Allen and Unwin. The Heritage 4 (228): 4 March 4, pp.1-3.
- Tracy, A.D., de, 1815, Elements of Ideology, Trans-Edited by Thomas Jefferson, Georgetown: Joseph Milligan.
- Transparency International, 2005, ‘Corruption Perception Index of Ghana’, Ghana Integrity Initiative, Accra.
- Wayo-Seini, A., 2006, ‘Does Party Philosophy Matter?’ in Report of Conference of Political Parties organised by The IEA, 27 -29 October, Akosombo, pp. 2-8.
- Zukin, C., Andolina, M., Jenkins, K. and Carpini, M.X.D., 2006, A New Engagement, New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 118-120.
References
Andrew, V., 1995, Modern Political Ideologies, London: Oxford University Press.
Asante, R., 2006, ‘The Youth and Politics in Ghana: Reflections on 2004 General Elections’, in Boafo-Arthur, K., ed., Voting for Democracy in Ghana: The 2004 Elections in Perspective. 1, Accra: Freedom Publications Ltd, pp. 215-229.
Austin, D., 1964, Politics in Ghana 1946-1960, London: Oxford University Press.
Ahwoi, K., 2006, ‘The Youth as Responsible Future Party Leaders’, in Report on Ghana/Netherlands Inter-Party Youth Conference organised by The IEA at Akosombo, 27-29 October, pp.13-19.
Asiamah, I., 2006, ‘The Youth and Organisation of Effective Political Parties’ in Report on Ghana/Netherlands Inter Party-Youth Conference organised by The IEA at Akosombo, 27-29 October, pp. 23-30.
Awoonor, K., 1990, Ghana: A Political History from Pre European to Modern Times, Accra: Sedco Publishing Ltd, pp. 30-318.
Bluwey, G.K., 2002, Political Science: An Introduction, Accra: Wilco Publicity Services Ltd, pp. 72-127.
Bell, D., 2000, The End of Ideology, Second Edition, Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press.
Burgers, T., 2003, ‘Youth and the Politics of Generational Conflicts’, paper presented at an International Conference organised by University of Leiden on 24 April, pp. 2-20.
CDD-Ghana, 2005, Election 2004 Observation Report. The Ghana Centre for Democratic Development, pp 26-30.
Chazan, N., 1978, ‘Political Culture and Socialization to Politics: A Ghanaian Case’, The Review of Politics 40(1):P January, pp.27-31.
Chazan, Naomi, 1983, An Anatomy of Ghanaian Politics: Managing Political Recession,1969-1982, Boulder: Westview Press p 21.
Dickson, K., 1968, ‘Background to the Economic Development of Northern Ghana’, Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 58(4), p.15.
Diouf, Mamadou, 2003, ‘Engaging Post-Colonial Cultures: African Youth and Public Spheres’, African Studies Review 46 (2): September, pp.3-12.
Durham, Deborah, 2000,. ‘Youth and the Social Imagination in Africa’, Anthropological Quarterly 73(3): July pp. 113-118.
Downs, Anthony, 1957, An Economic System of Democracy, New York: Harpers and Row, p. 96.
Eccleshall, R., Finlayson, A., Geoghegan, V., Kenny, M., Lloyd, M., Mackenzie, I., and Wilford, R., 1998, Political Ideologies, London: Routledge.
Grant, Ruth, 1987, John Locke’s Liberalism, Chicago: Univ of Chicago Press, p.54.
Heywood, Andrew, 2002, Politics, Palgrave: MacMillan Press, pp. 40-245.
Knebel, A.G., 1937, ‘Leadership for Modern Youth’ Annals of the American
Academy of Political and Social Science 194 (November), pp.174-188.
Lentz, Carola, 1995, ‘Unity for Development: Youth Associations in North-Western Ghana’, Journal of the International African Institute 65(3) , pp.395-340.
Kousoulas, D.G., 1975, On Government and Politics, Belmont: Duxbury Press, p.66.
Konteh, R., 2007, ‘The Role of Youth in Ensuring Peaceful Elections’ in Report on Conference of West African Political Parties organised by The IEA in Accra, 2 April, p.18.
Kramnick, I. and W., F., 1979, The Age of Ideology: Political Thought, 1750 to the Present, Second Edition, Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Ladouceur, P.A., 1979, Chiefs and Politicians: The Politics of Regionalism in Northern Ghana, London and New York: Longman Group Ltd, p.93.
Lipset, S.M., 1969, Political Man, London: Heinemann.
Miller, J.H., 1936, ‘Youth and the Future’ Journal of Higher Education 7 (5): May, pp.249-255.
Marx, K., 1972, Early Texts, Oxford: Blackwell.
Marx, K. and Engels, F., 1976, ‘The German Ideology’, Collected Works, Vol. 6, London: Lawrence and Wishart.
National Democratic Congress, 2004, Manifesto. Accra: NDC.
New Patriotic Party, 2004, Manifesto. Accra: NPP.
Ntsebeza, L., 1993, ‘Youth in Urban African Township, 1945-1992: A Case Study of the East London Township’, Unpublished MA Thesis, Durban: University of Natal, Department of Economic History, pp. 163-166.
Nwabuzor, J. and Muelle, M., 1985, An Introduction to Political Science for African Students, London: McMillan Press, p.104.
Oakeshott, M., 1962, Rationalism in Politics and other Essays, London and New York: Methuen.
Republic of Ghana, 2002, 2000 Population and Housing Census. Accra: Ghana Statistical Service.
Richards, P., 1995, ‘Rebellion in Liberia and Sierra Leone: A Crisis of Youth?’ in Furley, O., ed., Conflict in Africa, London: Taurus Academy Studies,, p.224.
Ritva, A., 1975, ‘Participation by Youth in Municipal Affairs’ Pedagogical Europaea 10(2), pp.117-125.
Shillington, K., 1992, Ghana and the Rawlings Factor, London: Macmillan Press, p.42.
Stewart, M., 1962, Modern Forms of Government London: Allen and Unwin. The Heritage 4 (228): 4 March 4, pp.1-3.
Tracy, A.D., de, 1815, Elements of Ideology, Trans-Edited by Thomas Jefferson, Georgetown: Joseph Milligan.
Transparency International, 2005, ‘Corruption Perception Index of Ghana’, Ghana Integrity Initiative, Accra.
Wayo-Seini, A., 2006, ‘Does Party Philosophy Matter?’ in Report of Conference of Political Parties organised by The IEA, 27 -29 October, Akosombo, pp. 2-8.
Zukin, C., Andolina, M., Jenkins, K. and Carpini, M.X.D., 2006, A New Engagement, New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 118-120.