Ethnic undercurrent and macro-level determinants of voter participation in Ghana’s 2012 election: Implications for the 2020 national elections
In this paper we analyze the ethnic undercurrent and macro-level determinants influencing voter participation in Ghana based on aggregate district-level data. The paper focuses on the determinants that influenced citizens’ political participation in the 2012 Presidential elections of the Fourth Repu...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of Ghana
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Legon Journal of the Humanities |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.ajol.info/index.php/ljh/article/view/202494 |
| _version_ | 1811189780944257024 |
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| author | Seidu Mahama Alidu Gbensuglo Alidu Bukari |
| author_facet | Seidu Mahama Alidu Gbensuglo Alidu Bukari |
| author_sort | Seidu Mahama Alidu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this paper we analyze the ethnic undercurrent and macro-level determinants influencing voter participation in Ghana based on aggregate district-level data. The paper focuses on the determinants that influenced citizens’ political participation in the 2012 Presidential elections of the Fourth Republic of Ghana and their implications for the December 2020 national elections. The unique approach of this paper is that district-level aggregate data on economic characteristics compiled by the Ghana Statistical Service are synchronised with district-level national presidential election results compiled by the Electoral Commission of Ghana to ascertain the determinants of participation. The analysis is based on the concept of the “Average District Voter” which is analyzed using district-level census data combined with national election results. Statistical analysis was used to complementarily assess the determinants of voter participation in the Ghanaian 2012 presidential elections. The results of the analysis thus established two major points; that ethnic identification with regard to the two major ethnic groups in Ghana (i.e., the Asantes and the Ewes) has clearly influenced voter turnout, and second, that worsening socio-economic conditions played a role in voter turnout in the 2012 presidential elections and these issues will ultimately determine the winner of the 2020 national elections. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T14:40:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8346ebf6fb464568ad5cec2e477aea2d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2458-746X 2458-746X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T14:40:40Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | University of Ghana |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Legon Journal of the Humanities |
| spelling | doaj.art-8346ebf6fb464568ad5cec2e477aea2d2022-12-22T04:17:59ZengUniversity of GhanaLegon Journal of the Humanities2458-746X2458-746X2020-12-01311145177https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ljh.v31i1.6Ethnic undercurrent and macro-level determinants of voter participation in Ghana’s 2012 election: Implications for the 2020 national electionsSeidu Mahama AliduGbensuglo Alidu BukariIn this paper we analyze the ethnic undercurrent and macro-level determinants influencing voter participation in Ghana based on aggregate district-level data. The paper focuses on the determinants that influenced citizens’ political participation in the 2012 Presidential elections of the Fourth Republic of Ghana and their implications for the December 2020 national elections. The unique approach of this paper is that district-level aggregate data on economic characteristics compiled by the Ghana Statistical Service are synchronised with district-level national presidential election results compiled by the Electoral Commission of Ghana to ascertain the determinants of participation. The analysis is based on the concept of the “Average District Voter” which is analyzed using district-level census data combined with national election results. Statistical analysis was used to complementarily assess the determinants of voter participation in the Ghanaian 2012 presidential elections. The results of the analysis thus established two major points; that ethnic identification with regard to the two major ethnic groups in Ghana (i.e., the Asantes and the Ewes) has clearly influenced voter turnout, and second, that worsening socio-economic conditions played a role in voter turnout in the 2012 presidential elections and these issues will ultimately determine the winner of the 2020 national elections.https://www.ajol.info/index.php/ljh/article/view/202494voter participationethnic votingghanaian electionsmacro-level analysissocio-economic dynamics |
| spellingShingle | Seidu Mahama Alidu Gbensuglo Alidu Bukari Ethnic undercurrent and macro-level determinants of voter participation in Ghana’s 2012 election: Implications for the 2020 national elections Legon Journal of the Humanities voter participation ethnic voting ghanaian elections macro-level analysis socio-economic dynamics |
| title | Ethnic undercurrent and macro-level determinants of voter participation in Ghana’s 2012 election: Implications for the 2020 national elections |
| title_full | Ethnic undercurrent and macro-level determinants of voter participation in Ghana’s 2012 election: Implications for the 2020 national elections |
| title_fullStr | Ethnic undercurrent and macro-level determinants of voter participation in Ghana’s 2012 election: Implications for the 2020 national elections |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ethnic undercurrent and macro-level determinants of voter participation in Ghana’s 2012 election: Implications for the 2020 national elections |
| title_short | Ethnic undercurrent and macro-level determinants of voter participation in Ghana’s 2012 election: Implications for the 2020 national elections |
| title_sort | ethnic undercurrent and macro level determinants of voter participation in ghana s 2012 election implications for the 2020 national elections |
| topic | voter participation ethnic voting ghanaian elections macro-level analysis socio-economic dynamics |
| url | https://www.ajol.info/index.php/ljh/article/view/202494 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT seidumahamaalidu ethnicundercurrentandmacroleveldeterminantsofvoterparticipationinghanas2012electionimplicationsforthe2020nationalelections AT gbensugloalidubukari ethnicundercurrentandmacroleveldeterminantsofvoterparticipationinghanas2012electionimplicationsforthe2020nationalelections |