Conflicts in the Sub-Sahara Region

By

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

1.1 Introduction1

1.2 Research Questions1

1.3 Rationale of the study2

1.4 Theoretical Framework5

1.5 Methodology8

1.6 Data Collection and Analysis9

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW10

2.1 Features and Effects of Colonial Rule in Nigeria and Ghana10

2.1.1 Governance10

2.1.2 Education12

2.1.3. Social Infrastructures13

2.1.4 Trade and Commerce14

2.2 The Effects of Colonial Rule in Ghana and Nigeria15

2.3 Nationalist Movement in Ghana and Nigeria16

2.4 Chapter Summary21

CHAPTER 3A: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS23

3a.1 Compare and Contrast Early Republic Rule in Nigeria and Ghana23

3a.2 Chapter Summary28

3b.2 The Final Phase of Military Rule in Nigeria and Ghana (1979-2000)41

3b.3 Chapter Summary57

CHAPTER 4: CRITICAL ANALYSIS60

4.1 Recarnation of Westminster Model of Democracy60

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION70

REFERENCES72

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Introduction

Philosophers and political gurus of different schools of thought have defined democracy to the best of their knowledge; however, there is no consensus on the definition of democracy considering its complexity. Democracy in simple term is the government of the people, by the people and for the people. Democracy also implies that there must be free and equal right of every person to participate in a system of government in their societies, which is usually by electing representatives of the people by the majority of the people. A democratic nation, however, is a country with a government that has been elected freely and equally by all its citizens.

Democracy is defined in human development report 2002 “As a political system that enables people to freely choose an effective honest, transparent government.” Karl Popper (1988) defined democracy as “a system that makes it possible to get rid of government without spilling blood” (Ralf Dahrendorf, 2003). Otto Bauer gave a different definition of democracy as “The form of state within which the distribution of power in the state is determined exclusively by the social factors of power, but is not shifted in favor of any one class through the application of material means of coercion” (Otto Bauer, 1957). Nigeria and Ghana are two West African countries with democratic system of government; however, while Ghana is stable politically, but there is reverse case in Nigeria.

1.2 Research Questions

The research question for this study revolves around identifying the fact that

Could multi-ethnicity be the cause of political instability in Nigeria and not Ghana?

Can religion play a role in political instability in Nigeria and not Ghana?

What are the roles of elites in political instability in Nigeria?

1.3 Rationale of the study

What animates this research work is in the expression of the challenges that Nigeria and Ghana had faced following decolonization. Ghana has been able to defy all odds wheras this case is completely opposite in Nigeria. Furthermore, unstable democracy in developing countries has been attributed to religious intolerance and ethnic conflicts as in the case of Sub-Sahara Africa. Even though, this might be the cause in some cases in West Africa considering the pluralistic nature of African countries, some of the problems are generally as a result of poor institutions, corruption and most importantly power struggle among elites in Sub-Sahara as in the case of Nigeria.

This research has also put an emphasis on the argument about ...