Abstract:
The burden of this study was to understand Ghana's South-South Cooperation (SSC),
its significance, and challenges, and explore how different Ghana's economic
diplomacy with the South (China and South Africa) is from that of the global North (the
US). Employing the Dependency Theory and Development Compact Framework, this
interpretive qualitative research adopted a multiple case study design looking at the US,
China, and South Africa in the areas of trade, FDI, and economic aid. Data was collected
from eight informants including importers and exporters, Ghana Union of Traders
Association, and an academic expert in the field of International Politics and
Comparative Politics. Secondary sources included data from GIPC, the website of the
Observatory of Economic Complexity, and other official reports and newsletters from
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, the Parliament of Ghana, etc.
The study revealed that Ghana emphasises trade fairs, workshops, and conferences in
its economic diplomacy, trading more with the South due to affordability, quality of
goods, ease of transportation, and trade flexibility. The study also found that SSC
generates jobs, supports key sectors, offers flexible economic aid, respects sovereignty,
and provides affordable electrical goods. However, the study showed some challenges
including forex exchange limitations, environmental concerns, unequal trade exchange,
unsustainable debt, and insufficient intraregional trade and economic aid in Ghana’s
SSC. It found that South-South countries prioritise environmental concerns less than
Northern counterparts. The study concludes that, Ghana’s economic diplomacy
approaches are similar, but differences emerge in trade value, commodities, FDI, and
economic aid between the global North and South. Also, the quest to strengthen intra
and interregional SSC faces challenges due to Western Superpowers' interests. The
study recommends that Ghana continues to maintain flexible economic diplomacy, add
value to Ghana's exports, prioritise environmentally-friendly economic aid, enforce
environmental laws, and pursue a common regional currency to enhance intraregional
relations.
Description:
A Thesis in the Department of Political Science Education,
Faculty of Social Sciences submitted to the School of
Graduate Studies, in partial fulfilment
of the requirements for the award of degree of
Master of Philosophy
(Political Science)
in the University of Education, Winneba
