DEMOCRACY AND POLITICAL GOVERNANCE Box 2.1: Dividends of democracy in Ghana APRM is essentially about governance and political issues. The APR process has clearly demonstrated that Ghana has made significant – and commendable – progress in institutionalising democracy and promoting good governance. A country that has been under civilian authoritarian and dictatorial rule and military regimes for many years is now stable. Ghanaians are generally confident that they have a system of governance of their own making, appropriate to their own particular circumstances and their efforts to institutionalise democracy and good governance Ghanaians have also created unique institutions and processes that other African countries could consider emulating or adapting for their own use. These include the Annual Governance Forum, where stakeholders discuss selected issues on democracy and good political governance. It has been held every year since 1998, initially under the auspices of the National Institutional Renewal Programme and Parliament and, more recently, the National Governance Programme. The other, instituted in 2001, is the People’s Assembly, an annual unstructured interaction between the President and the people. The Assembly allows Ghanaians from all walks of life to pose any questions to the President. The Assembly and the Forum have expanded the political space for ordinary people and have brought the government somewhat closer to them. These institutions have certainly demystified the government, rendering it less abstract and remote. Ghanaians’ sense of ownership has been strengthened, in that they have a system of governance that listens to them and is approachable. This process demonstrates that partnership between the civil society, the government, media, the press and the private sector is possible and practicable, and eminently useful. amongst Ghanaians that they have, at last, achieved political stability. Although their system of governance has identified certain major deficiencies, they are confident that they have the freedom, ability and will to rectify these, as indicated in Box 2.1. 9. Major deficiencies are acknowledged both in the practical workings of the Constitution and democracy, institutional capacity, the delivery of public services, the electoral process, and the performance of governance institutions at the various levels of the governance system. These major issues of governance and democracy need to be addressed if Ghanaians are to achieve the overarching objectives of NEPAD. 15