Do the People Matter in Policymaking in Ghana? A Reflection on the E-Levy and Debt Exchange Programs

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Published: Feb 29, 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.46404/panjogov.v5i1.5361
Keywords:
Social Contract, Elitism, Participatory Policymaking, E-levy, Debt Exchange Program

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Edward Brenya
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Samuel Adu-Gyamfi
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Philip Nii Noi Nortey
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Dennis Apau
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Kwabena Opoku Dapaah
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Abstract

The extent to which the masses have a say in matters concerning their lives is crucial in governance. It makes a significant amount of knowledge to say that people vote for elected policymakers to make policies that will make their lives better off and not the opposite. However, in the making of policies, the views of the people who either benefit or suffer the ramifications of policies are not taken into consideration. Therefore, the content analysis methodology has been employed in this study to systematically analyze secondary sources about the recent adoption of the E-Levy policy and Debt Exchange Program to ascertain whether the people mattered in adopting and implementing these policies. The adoption of these policies has raised a lot of controversies, with the public agitating and calling for its termination. The government of Ghana, being keen on continuing with the implementation of these policies as the only way out of the country's economic hardship, raises a lot of questions. After a systematic analysis of the literature, the paper argues that both policies were passed without the involvement of the people. The implication of the government’s failure to adopt a participatory policymaking approach accounts for the citizenry's loss of trust in the government.

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How to Cite
Brenya, E., Samuel Adu-Gyamfi, Nortey, P. N. N., Apau, D., & Dapaah, K. O. (2024). Do the People Matter in Policymaking in Ghana? A Reflection on the E-Levy and Debt Exchange Programs. PanAfrican Journal of Governance and Development (PJGD), 5(1), 56-77. https://doi.org/10.46404/panjogov.v5i1.5361
Issue
Vol 5 No 1 (2024): PanAfrican Journal of Governance and Development (PJGD)
Section
Research-based/ Original Articles
Author Biographies

Edward Brenya, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Edward Brenya is a Political Scientist, Policy Analyst, and Public Administration scholar at the Department of History and Political Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). He is currently the Head of History and Political Studies at the same University.  He received his undergraduate degree in Political Science with Philosophy from the University of Ghana, Legon-Ghana; Master of Arts in International Affairs (African Studies) degree from Ohio University, USA; Master of Public Administration degree from Ohio University, USA; A Master of Political Science Degree from West Virginia University, USA and Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science degree from West Virginia University, USA. He has published several articles in reputable journals and his research focuses on public health and tobacco control policy, public administration, petroleum and energy politics and policy; democracy and democratization.

Samuel Adu-Gyamfi , Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Samuel Adu-Gyamfi is the former Head of History and Political Studies at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). He is an Applied Historian at KNUST. His research focus is on applied history, including the social studies of health and medicine in Africa. Prof. Adu-Gyamfi leads the Asante History Team at the KNUST through the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between KNUST and the Royal Society for Asante Culture and History (ROSACH). Through Applied History, he makes explicit attempts to illuminate current challenges and choices by analyzing historical precedents and analogs. He begins with a current choice or predicament and provides a perspective from history. His current interests are in the applied history of epidemics, pandemics, education, and politics in Asante, Ghana, and Africa.

Philip Nii Noi Nortey, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Philip Nii Noi Nortey is a political science graduate with interests in public policy, public administration, Governance, and Development in Africa. He was a Teaching and Research Assistant in the Department of History and Political Studies at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.

Dennis Apau, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Dennis Apau is a former Teaching and Research Assistant at the Department of History and Political Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi-Ghana. His research interests include Governance and Leadership, Public Policy, and Public Administration. He is available for future collaborative research.

Kwabena Opoku Dapaah, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Kwabena Opoku Dapaah graduated as part of the top ten of his graduating class in the Department of History and Political Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi-Ghana. He is passionate about research that contributes to Africa’s Development and Ghana in particular. He is a former Teaching and Research Assistant in the Department of History and Political Studies, KNUST. Kwabena looks forward to future collaborative research.

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