Kwadwo A. Tuffuor, Joyce D. Acquah, Janet S. Boateng
University of Cape Coast, Ghana
Theories that underpin democratic consolidation makes allowance for movements either towards or away from stable democratic practice. But in all, the most significant underlying assumption in the plethora of literature on consolidation is that, after a successful transition, democratic values and norms become secured due to their entrenchment and favourable conditions that exists in society to make it work. Democratic consolidation connotes entrenching the practice where the people are involved in the day-to-day decision-making and also making sure that institutions work and work effectively. Since 1992, Ghana has transformed its rule from military to civilian one, democracy – where the citizens directly or through their representatives take the day-to-day decision on behalf of the people The main objective of the study is to examine the role of the various disciplines in the social sciences namely - political science, economics, development studies, sociology, psychology, law etc in the democratic consolidation process. The study is based on content analysis and desk review. It is the thesis of this paper that, practitioners in these disciplines mentioned could help in the entrenchment of democratic values by engaging the rule and the ruled to play their respective roles as established under the legal framework of the country. This eventually will lead to the strengthening of institutions, inducing transparency and accountability and imbibing in the citizenry civic culture and values thereby enhancing participation in decision-making and eventually consolidating democracy.
Article link: https://www.asianinstituteofresearch.org/JSParchives/consolidating-democracy-in-ghana%3A-the-role-of-the-social-sciences
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