Electoral politics and human security in Ghana since 1992, a qualitative study of Agbogbloshie in the Greater Accra region.

Abstract

One of the most important means people can take part in decisions that affect their lives and hold their elected representatives accountable is through elections. Conflicts in Africa have been largely intra-state with election issues as the causal core and have consequently claimed thousands of lives, raising challenges for the African Union (AU) and the international community. Ghana has conducted several successful elections since 1992, but the country continues to face many threats of widespread violence due to the recurrent nature of micro-level electoral violence and the existence of vulnerabilities. The purpose of this study was to examine the manner in which electoral politics affect human security in Ghana and thereby undermining human rights. The specific objectives were to explore the political culture of Agbogbloshie; determine the causes of incessant violence in the area during general elections since 1992 and assess state response to the situation in the area. The researcher adopted the case study design within the phenomenological interpretative paradigm to achieve the goal of the study. Primary data were collected with the aid of interview-guide; and analyzed using thematic narratives while secondary sources were gleaned from existing documents, reports, textbooks, newspaper publications and internet search. The study found that electoral politics adversely affects human security in the study area. Evidence to support the above assertion include creation of fear and panic, loss of jobs due to looting and destruction of shops, confiscation of private properties, discrimination based on political party grounds as well as displacement of people. The study noted that if the state adopts pragmatic approaches to resolve or address both the structural and process factors leading to the persistent electoral violence in the area, there will be sustainable peace and the security of the people would be guaranteed.