Tradition and transformation: Democracy and the politics of popular power in Ghana

Journal of Modern African Studies

Volumn 34, Issue 2, 1996, Pages 307-343

  Owusu, Maxwell ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN   (United States)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

EID: 0001003578     PISSN: 0022278X     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1017/s0022278x0005535x     Document Type: Article

References (97)

1. Maxwell Owusu, 'Democracy and Africa - a View from the Village', in The Journal of Modern
2. African Studies (Cambridge), 30, 3, September 1992, pp. 369-96.
3. Richard Jeffries and Clare Thomas, 'The Ghanaian Elections of 1992', in African Affairs (London), 92, 368, July 1993, pp. 331-66.
4. See, for example, E. Gyimah-Boadi (ed.), Ghana Under PNDC Rule (Dakar, 1993), and Maxwell Owusu, 'Government and Politics', in L. Berry (ed.), Ghana: a country study (Washington, DC, 1995). Also, Victoria Brittain, 'Ghana's Precarious Revolution', in New Left Review (London), 140, July-August 1983, pp. 50-61; Baffour Agyeman-Duah, 'Ghana, 1982-6: the politics of the P.N.D.C.', in The Journal of Modern African Studies, 25, 4, December 1987, pp. 613-42; and James C. W. Ahiakpor, 'Rawlings, Economic Policy Reform, and the Poor: consistency or betrayal?', in ibid. 29, 4, December 1991, pp. 583-600.
5. See, for example, E. Gyimah-Boadi (ed.), Ghana Under PNDC Rule (Dakar, 1993), and Maxwell Owusu, 'Government and Politics', in L. Berry (ed.), Ghana: a country study (Washington, DC, 1995). Also, Victoria Brittain, 'Ghana's Precarious Revolution', in New Left Review (London), 140, July-August 1983, pp. 50-61; Baffour Agyeman-Duah, 'Ghana, 1982-6: the politics of the P.N.D.C.', in The Journal of Modern African Studies, 25, 4, December 1987, pp. 613-42; and James C. W. Ahiakpor, 'Rawlings, Economic Policy Reform, and the Poor: consistency or betrayal?', in ibid. 29, 4, December 1991, pp. 583-600.
6. See, for example, E. Gyimah-Boadi (ed.), Ghana Under PNDC Rule (Dakar, 1993), and Maxwell Owusu, 'Government and Politics', in L. Berry (ed.), Ghana: a country study (Washington, DC, 1995). Also, Victoria Brittain, 'Ghana's Precarious Revolution', in New Left Review (London), 140, July-August 1983, pp. 50-61; Baffour Agyeman-Duah, 'Ghana, 1982-6: the politics of the P.N.D.C.', in The Journal of Modern African Studies, 25, 4, December 1987, pp. 613-42; and James C. W. Ahiakpor, 'Rawlings, Economic Policy Reform, and the Poor: consistency or betrayal?', in ibid. 29, 4, December 1991, pp. 583-600.
7. See, for example, E. Gyimah-Boadi (ed.), Ghana Under PNDC Rule (Dakar, 1993), and Maxwell Owusu, 'Government and Politics', in L. Berry (ed.), Ghana: a country study (Washington, DC, 1995). Also, Victoria Brittain, 'Ghana's Precarious Revolution', in New Left Review (London), 140, July-August 1983, pp. 50-61; Baffour Agyeman-Duah, 'Ghana, 1982-6: the politics of the P.N.D.C.', in The Journal of Modern African Studies, 25, 4, December 1987, pp. 613-42; and James C. W. Ahiakpor, 'Rawlings, Economic Policy Reform, and the Poor: consistency or betrayal?', in ibid. 29, 4, December 1991, pp. 583-600.
8. See, for example, E. Gyimah-Boadi (ed.), Ghana Under PNDC Rule (Dakar, 1993), and Maxwell Owusu, 'Government and Politics', in L. Berry (ed.), Ghana: a country study (Washington, DC, 1995). Also, Victoria Brittain, 'Ghana's Precarious Revolution', in New Left Review (London), 140, July-August 1983, pp. 50-61; Baffour Agyeman-Duah, 'Ghana, 1982-6: the politics of the P.N.D.C.', in The Journal of Modern African Studies, 25, 4, December 1987, pp. 613-42; and James C. W. Ahiakpor, 'Rawlings, Economic Policy Reform, and the Poor: consistency or betrayal?', in ibid. 29, 4, December 1991, pp. 583-600.
9. For example, Donald I. Ray, Ghana : politics, economics and society (London and Boulder, 1986).
10. CDR Guidelines (Accra, 1986), pp. 1 and 3.
11. Hilla Limann, Democracy and Ghana (London, 1983), p. 124.
12. Jerry J. Rawlings, The Process of Consolidation. Selected Speeches and Interviews of Flt-Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, Chairman of the PNDC, January 1, 1984-December 31, 1984, Vol. 3 (Accra, Information Services Department, 1984), pp. 100-1.
13. See Maxwell Owusu, 'Current Socioeconomic Situation: what is to be done', in The Daily Graphic (Accra), 27 June 1980, pp. 4-5.
14. Emmanuel Hansen, 'The State and Food Agriculture', in Hansen and Kwame A. Ninsin (eds.), The State, Development and Politics in Ghana (London, 1989), p. 196.
15. Maxwell Owusu, Uses and Abuses of Political Power : a case study of continuity and change in the politics of Ghana (Chicago and London, 1970).
16. The Believer (Accra), 10 June 1981, pp. 1 and 4. See Jerry Rawlings, 'Interview with Christian Tagoe', reproduced in Ghana Bar Bulletin (Accra), 1 June 1988, pp. 56-61, and 'Address at the Opening Session of the National Commission for Democracy Seminar, Sunyani, 5th July', reprinted in Home Front Ghanaian News and Views (Accra, Information Services Department, 1990).
17. The Believer (Accra), 10 June 1981, pp. 1 and 4. See Jerry Rawlings, 'Interview with Christian Tagoe', reproduced in Ghana Bar Bulletin (Accra), 1 June 1988, pp. 56-61, and 'Address at the Opening Session of the National Commission for Democracy Seminar, Sunyani, 5th July', reprinted in Home Front Ghanaian News and Views (Accra, Information Services Department, 1990).
18. The Believer (Accra), 10 June 1981, pp. 1 and 4. See Jerry Rawlings, 'Interview with Christian Tagoe', reproduced in Ghana Bar Bulletin (Accra), 1 June 1988, pp. 56-61, and 'Address at the Opening Session of the National Commission for Democracy Seminar, Sunyani, 5th July', reprinted in Home Front Ghanaian News and Views (Accra, Information Services Department, 1990).
19. The Believer (Accra), 10 June 1981, pp. 1 and 4. See Jerry Rawlings, 'Interview with Christian Tagoe', reproduced in Ghana Bar Bulletin (Accra), 1 June 1988, pp. 56-61, and 'Address at the Opening Session of the National Commission for Democracy Seminar, Sunyani, 5th July', reprinted in Home Front Ghanaian News and Views (Accra, Information Services Department, 1990).
20. Thomas Cooke, 'Passion for Politics', in West Africa (London), 27 April 1987, p. 798.
21. Kenneth Mackenzie, 'Introduction', in Limann, op. cit. pp. ix and xiii.
22. For example, Ray, op. cit. and Zaya Yeebo, Ghana: the struggle for popular power. Rawlings: saviour or demagogue? (London, 1991).
23. For example, Ray, op. cit. and Zaya Yeebo, Ghana: the struggle for popular power. Rawlings: saviour or demagogue? (London, 1991).
24. See Maxwell Owusu, 'Custom and Coups: a juridical interpretation of civil order and disorder in Ghana', in The Journal of Modern African Studies, 24, 1, March 1986, pp. 69-99, and 'Rebellion, Revolution and Tradition: reinterpretation of coups in Ghana', in Comparative Studies in Society and History (Cambridge), 31, 2, April 1989, pp. 372-97.
25. See Maxwell Owusu, 'Custom and Coups: a juridical interpretation of civil order and disorder in Ghana', in The Journal of Modern African Studies, 24, 1, March 1986, pp. 69-99, and 'Rebellion, Revolution and Tradition: reinterpretation of coups in Ghana', in Comparative Studies in Society and History (Cambridge), 31, 2, April 1989, pp. 372-97.
26. See James C. W. Ahiakpor, 'Recognizing "Left" from "Right" in Ghana: a comment on Ninsin', in Canadian Journal of African Studies (Toronto), 22, 1, 1988, pp. 132-6, and Kwame A. Ninsin, 'Recognising Left and Right in Ghanaian Politics: a reply to Ahiakpor', in ibid. PP. 137-9.
27. See James C. W. Ahiakpor, 'Recognizing "Left" from "Right" in Ghana: a comment on Ninsin', in Canadian Journal of African Studies (Toronto), 22, 1, 1988, pp. 132-6, and Kwame A. Ninsin, 'Recognising Left and Right in Ghanaian Politics: a reply to Ahiakpor', in ibid. PP. 137-9.
28. See Polly Hill, Studies in Rural Capitalism in West Africa (Cambridge, 1970); Margaret Peil, The Ghanaian Factory Worker: industrial man in Africa (Cambridge, 1972); Richard Jeffries, Class, Power and Ideology in Ghana: the railwaymen of Sekondi (Cambridge, 1978); and Piet Konings, The state and Rural Class Formation in Ghana: a comparative analysis (London, 1986).
29. See Polly Hill, Studies in Rural Capitalism in West Africa (Cambridge, 1970); Margaret Peil, The Ghanaian Factory Worker: industrial man in Africa (Cambridge, 1972); Richard Jeffries, Class, Power and Ideology in Ghana: the railwaymen of Sekondi (Cambridge, 1978); and Piet Konings, The state and Rural Class Formation in Ghana: a comparative analysis (London, 1986).
30. See Polly Hill, Studies in Rural Capitalism in West Africa (Cambridge, 1970); Margaret Peil, The Ghanaian Factory Worker: industrial man in Africa (Cambridge, 1972); Richard Jeffries, Class, Power and Ideology in Ghana: the railwaymen of Sekondi (Cambridge, 1978); and Piet Konings, The state and Rural Class Formation in Ghana: a comparative analysis (London, 1986).
31. See Polly Hill, Studies in Rural Capitalism in West Africa (Cambridge, 1970); Margaret Peil, The Ghanaian Factory Worker: industrial man in Africa (Cambridge, 1972); Richard Jeffries, Class, Power and Ideology in Ghana: the railwaymen of Sekondi (Cambridge, 1978); and Piet Konings, The state and Rural Class Formation in Ghana: a comparative analysis (London, 1986).
32. Peil, op. cit. p. 231.
33. Daily Graphic, 27 May 1982, p. 3.
34. Martin Meredith and Cameron Duodu, 'Ghana Prepares for People Power Mark II', in The Sunday Times (London), 10 January 1982, p. 9.
35. Limann Speaks the Way Ahead. Address by His Excellency President Hilla Limann at the Annual Congress of the People's National Party (29th May to 1st June, 1980) at the Prempeh Assembly Hall, Kumasi (Accra, 1980), pp. 24-5.
36. P. V. Obeng, 'Interview with Hugo Alonso - Government on the Spot', in Prisma (Havana), 79, November 1989, pp. 34-40.
37. See Richard Jeffries, 'The Ghanaian Elections of 1979', in African Affairs, 79, 316, July 1980, pp. 397-414.
38. G. K. Agama, 'New Directions in Economic Policy for Ghana', in The Journal of Management Studies (Legon), 2, 1, March 1985, pp. 14-19.
39. Hill, op. cit. and Peter C. Garlick, African Traders and Economic Development in Ghana (Oxford, 1971).
40. Hill, op. cit. and Peter C. Garlick, African Traders and Economic Development in Ghana (Oxford, 1971).
41. Hilla Limann, 'Ghana (Interview)', in African Concord (London), 128, 19 February 1987, pp. 17-18.
42. Azzu Mate Kole, 'Address Delivered at the Ngmayem Festival Durbar', Krobo Odumase, 1982, p. 2.
43. On the asafo, see Owusu, 'Rebellion, Revolution and Tradition', and Uses and Abuses of Political Power.
44. Catholic Bishops Conference, The Catholic Church and Ghana's Search for a New Democratic System (Accra, February 1991).
45. Obeng Manu, 'State of the Nation', in Ivor Agyeman Duah (ed.), Political Reflections on the Motherland (Kumasi, 1992), p. 130.
46. Daily Graphic, 27 May 1982, pp. 4-5.
47. Christian Council of Ghana, November 1982.
48. William Ofori Atta, Ghana: a nation in crisis. The J. B. Danquah Memorial Lectures, Eighteenth Series, February 1985 (Accra, Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1988).
49. Elizabeth Ohene, 'Is Military Rule Really the Answer?', in West Africa, 31 May 1982, p. 1451.
50. Manu, loc. cit. p. 130.
51. Owusu, 'Rebellion, Revolution and Tradition', 1989.
52. Max Assimeng, 'Rawlings, Charisma and Social Structure', in Universitas (Legon), 8, n.d. p. 153.
53. Dennis Austin, Ghana Observed: essays on the politics of a West African republic (Manchester, 1976), p. 157. See also, Owusu, Uses and Abuses of 1olitical Power, and Dennis Austin and Robin Luckham (eds.), Politicians and Soldiers in Ghana, 1966-1972 (London, 1975).
54. Dennis Austin, Ghana Observed: essays on the politics of a West African republic (Manchester, 1976), p. 157. See also, Owusu, Uses and Abuses of 1olitical Power, and Dennis Austin and Robin Luckham (eds.), Politicians and Soldiers in Ghana, 1966-1972 (London, 1975).
55. Dennis Austin, Ghana Observed: essays on the politics of a West African republic (Manchester, 1976), p. 157. See also, Owusu, Uses and Abuses of 1olitical Power, and Dennis Austin and Robin Luckham (eds.), Politicians and Soldiers in Ghana, 1966-1972 (London, 1975).
56. Austin, Ghana Observed, p. 157.
57. See Maxwell Owusu, 'Agegemania', in The Legon Observer, 3, 2, 1981, pp. 124-6.
58. Ray, op. cit. p. 125.
59. Ibid. p. 71.
60. See Meredith and Duodu, loc. cit. p. 9.
61. Owusu, 'Custom and Coups', p. 86.
62. Leo Panitch and Ralph Miliband, 'The New World Order and the Socialist Agenda', in Panitch and Miliband (eds.), The Socialist Register, 1992 (London, 1992), p. 1.
63. Leo Panitch and Ralph Miliband, 'The New World Order and the Socialist Agenda', in Panitch and Miliband (eds.), The Socialist Register, 1992 (London, 1992), p. 1.
64. Eric J. Hobsbawn, Industry and Empire: from 1750 to the present day (Harmondsworth, 1968), p. 16.
65. Alex Kwame Aidoo, 'Chieftaincy', in Proceedings of the Constitutional Drafting Commission held at the Kwame Nkrumah Conference Centre (Old Conference Hall) on Wednesday, 7th June 1978 at 8: 40 in the Fore noon (Accra, 1978), p. 48.
66. Quoted by N. A. Ollennu, 'Chieftaincy Under the Law', in W. C. Ekow Daniels and G. R. Woodman (eds.), Essays in Ghanaian Law, 1876-1976 (Legon, Faculty of Law, 1976), p. 52.
67. The Proposals of the Constitutional Commission for a Constitution for the Establishment of a Transitional (Interim) National Government for Ghana (Accra, 1978), p. 96.
68. Quoted by Peter Waterman, 'Introduction: on radicalism in African studies', in Peter C. W. Gutkind and Waterman (eds.), African Social Studies: a radical reader (London and New York, 1977), p. 2.
69. Owusu, 'Custom and Coups', p. 72.
70. See, for example, Waterman, loc. cit. p. 2.
71. Free Press (Accra), 7 February 1982, p. 1.
72. See Owusu, 'Rebellion, Revolution and Tradition'.
73. Basil Davidson, 'Nationalism Reconsidered', in UCLA African Studies Center Newsletter (Los Angeles), Spring 1988, pp. 10-12.
74. Samir Amin, 'A Propos the "Green" Movements', in Herb Addo et al., Development as Social Transformation: reflections on the global problematique (London, 1985), p. 279.
75. S. A. Nkrumah, 'Reflections on Local Government in Ghana', in The Legon Observer, 8, 12-25, January 1973, pp. 10-15.
76. Samir Amin, 'The Class Struggle in Africa', in Revolution (Paris), 1, 9, 1964, p. 38.
77. K. A. Busia, The Position of the Chief in the Modern Political System of Ashanti: a study of the influence of contemporary social changes on Ashanti political institutions (London, 1951).
78. Kwame Nkrumah, 'Movement for Colonial Freedom', in Phylon (Atlanta), 16, 4, 1955, pp. 403 and 405.
79. Kwame Nkrumah, Africa Must Unite (London, 1963), p. 84.
80. The Ghanaian Times (Accra), 18 February 1964, p. 3.
81. Maxwell Owusu, 1982, personal notes.
82. John Gunther, Inside Africa (London, 1955), pp. 779-80.
83. St. Clair Drake, 'Traditional Authority and Social Action in Former British West Africa', in Pierre L. van den Berghe (ed.), Africa: social problems of change and conflict (San Francisco, 1965), p. 528.
84. Daily Graphic, 7 January 1982, p. 1.
85. West Africa, 24 January 1983, p. 238.
86. Afrique-Asie (Paris), May 1985, p. 9.
87. The Legon Observer, 1982, p. 51.
88. Talking Drums (London), 25 March 1985, p. 14.
89. Prisma, November 1989, p. 38.
90. Jeffrey Herbst, The Politics of Reform in Ghana, 1982-91 (Berkeley, Los Angeles, and Oxford, 1993). pp. 91-2.
91. See T. H. Ewusi-Brookman, 'Is the Politician, The Scape Goat? Editorial Opinion', in Ivor Agyeman Duah (ed.), op. cit. pp. 38-9.
92. Ghana Population Census, 1984 (Accra, 1984), pp. 72-3.
93. See Owusu, 'Democracy and Africa'.
94. See 'Report on the Familiarization Tour of the Agona District by the PNDC Secretary and the Presiding Member of the Agona District Assembly', 1989.
95. 'Marriage and Funeral Bye-Laws, 1988, by the Agona Nyakrom Traditional Council', 1988, p. 4.
96. Nsamankow (Accra), 7, 24-30 September 1982, p. 8.
97. Carl Stone, 'Democracy and Socialism in Jamaica, 1972-1979', in Henry Paget and Stone (eds.), The Newer Caribbean Decolonization Democracy and Development (Philadelphia, Institute for the Study of Human Issues, 1984), p. 236.