The Ghana 2000 Elections: Voter Choice and Electoral Decisions

Abstract

The 2000 presidential and parliamentary elections in Ghana deserve notice, not because of their political significance but because of the theoretical weight they carry. The shift in electoral fortunes between the two main political parties in the country provide a unique leverage for assessing theories of voting behaviour. This article examines in detail the electoral performance of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) party in the 2000 elections, treating the elections as opportunities for voters to endorse or repudiate the incumbent (NDC) regime's record in particular. Contrary to earlier assertions that Ghanaians pay attention not so much to regime performance and achievements as they reach their political decisions, we show empirically that the Ghanaians could also choose between parties and candidates when deciding on an election.


(A. J. of Political Science: 2001 6(1): 69-88)