College of Education

School of Continuing and Distance Education 2017/2018 – 2018/2019 ACADEMIC YEAR

LECTURER: (Dr. Charles Amo-Agyemang) DEPARTMENT: (Political Science Department)

(Contact Information: camo-agyemang@ug.edu.gh)

Course Information

Provide the following information:

Course Code: POLI 446

Course Title: Layers of Ghana's Foreign Policy

Course Credit

Thre Credit Hours

Session Number & Session Title:

Session Number Three & Session Title:Layersof Ghana’s foreign policy

Semester/Year: Second Semester /2018

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Course Information (contd.)

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Lecture Period(s)

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Prerequisites Insert Course Prerequisites: (if applicable)

Teaching Assistant

Insert Teaching Assistant’s Information: (where applicable, provide name and contact information)

Course Instructor’s Contact

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Course Instructor(s) Name

Dr. Charles Amo-Agyemang

Office Location On top of the Political Science Department

Office Hours

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Phone 0558202042

E-mail camoagyemang@ug.edu.gh Slide 4

Introduction/Subject or Session Overview

The layers of Ghana’s foreign policy are nothing but the areas where Ghana directs or focuses her foreign policies. There are four main layers of Ghana’s foreign policy and these are 1) Good-Neighbor Policy 2) Inter African Relations 3) Extra-African Diplomatic Relation and 4) Economic Diplomacy.

This session attempts to explore the foreign policy dimension of Ghana since independence within the context of new anxieties and challenges in global politics. This session attempts to place the principles of Ghana’s foreign policy in context and argues that the need for economic aid as key foreign policy variable has significantly impacted the re-ordering of Ghana’s foreign external relations in contemporary times.

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Session Outline

The key topics to be covered in the session are as follows:

• Topic One: Layers of Ghana’s foreign policy

• Topic Two : Attributes Ghana’s foreign policy

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Session Learning Goals

• Explain the attributes of Ghana’s foreign policy orientation since independence

• Explore the factors that have accounted for the reordering of Ghana’s foreign policy orientation in contemporary times

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Session Learning Objectives

• Objective One: Discuss the attributes that may enhance or constraint foreign policy formulation and implementation in Ghana

• Objective Two: Discuss four layers of Ghana’s foreign policy

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Session Learning Outcomes

• Be able to evaluate different layers of Ghana's foreign policy and to determine their relevance in contemporary global politics

• Understand the principles and attributes of Ghana’s foreign To be able to assess the reordering of Ghana’s foreign policy orientation in contemporary times

• To be able to evaluate the extent to which reordering of Ghana’s foreign policy has ensured economic security

• To be able to discuss the four layers of Ghana’s foreign policy

• Examine the adequacy of Ghana’s foreign policy architecture in the context of 21st century global politics

• Be able to identify and examine important attributes of Ghana's foreign policy since independence in the context of new issues and challenges

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Session Activities and Assignments

This week, complete the following tasks: • Log onto the UG Sakai LMS course site:

– http://sakai.ug.edu.gh/XXXXXXXXX

• Read Akokpari, J.K. (1999) “Changing with the Tide: The Shifting Orientations of Foreign Policies in Sub-Saharan Africa”. Nordic Journal of African Studies 8(1):22-38

• Chidozie, O. (1988) “Domestic Economic Interest Groups and Foreign Policy” In: Economic Development and Foreign Policy, G. O. Olusanya et al. Lagos: Nigeria Institute of International Affairs

• Watch the Videos for Session – Layers of Ghana’s foreign policy • Review Lecture Slides: Session – Layers of Ghana’s foreign policy • Visit the Chat Room and discuss the Forum question for Session 3 • Complete the Individual Assignment for Session 3

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Creating Blended Assignment Instructions

Recommended eight (8) elements to include in written assignment instructions distributed to students online: 1. Assignment title (exactly the same as title used in syllabus and other

course documents) 2. Learning objective(s) to which the assignment relates 3. Assignment due date (if receiving electronic submissions, include

time/time zone also) 4. Submission details (electronic submissions only? required file format?

via email? via assignment upload?) 5. Scoring criteria/rubric 6. Level of group participation (individual assignments, group or team

projects, and entire class projects). 7. Mechanical details (number of words/pages, preferred style guide for

citations, number/type of citations, etc.) 8. Any supporting resources necessary for assignment completion

O’Reilly and Kelly (2008) Slide 11

Reading List

• Akokpari, J.K. (1999) “Changing with the Tide: The Shifting Orientations of Foreign Policies in Sub-Saharan Africa”. Nordic Journal of African Studies 8(1):22-38

• Chidozie, O. (1988) “Domestic Economic Interest Groups and Foreign Policy” In: Economic Development and Foreign Policy, G. O. Olusanya et al. Lagos: Nigeria Institute of International Affairs

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Slide 13 SOURCE: The Course Blueprint is part of the Blended Learning Toolkit prepared by University of Central Florida (UCF) and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) with funding from the Next Generation Learning Challenges (NGLC). It is provided as an Open Educational Resource under a Creative Common Attribution-NonCommercial ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License

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Course Description:

Course Blueprint – Course Title (Template)

SOURCE: The Course Blueprint is part of the Blended Learning Toolkit prepared by University of Central Florida (UCF) and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) with funding from the Next Generation Learning Challenges (NGLC). It is provided as an Open Educational Resource under a Creative Common Attribution-NonCommercial ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License

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LAYERS OF GHANA’S FOREIGN POLICY

Topic One

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LAYERS OF GHANA’S FOREIGN POLICY

Four Layers of Ghana’s Foreign Policy Good-Neighbour Policy

The primary objectives of Ghana’s good neighbour policy in West Africa has remained substantially the same over the years. Good-neighbour policy yields the benefits of checking smuggling; resolving territorial disputes; and addressing irredentism along the borders.

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CON’T

These are policies that are directed towards improving relations with Ghana’s immediate neighbors and other nations in the West African sub-region. The primary objectives of Ghana’s good-neighbor policy in West Africa has remained substantially the same over the years. It is often followed to harvest the benefits of checking smuggling; resolving territorial disputes; and addressing irredentism along the borders of Ghana.

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LAYERS OF GHANA’S FOREIGN POLICY

Topic One

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LAYERS OF GHAN’S FOREIGN POLICY

• Inter African Relations: • Continental unity, peace and security, trade and other related

matters characterize Ghana’s inter-African relations. Ghana’s first president made inter-African relations the centerpiece of his foreign policy Unlike good-neighbor policy which is directed towards the improvement of relations between Ghana and countries in the West-African sub-region, the inter-African relation focuses on the entire African continent and not necessarily the West African sub-region ‘per se’. It is aimed, inter alia, to ensure continental unity, peace and security and also improve trade between Ghana and the rest of Africa. It is on record that Kwame Nkrumah pursued this layer to the fullest and even made it a centerpiece in his foreign policy.

• .

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LAYERS OF GHANA’S FOREIGN POLICY

Topic One

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LAYERS OF GHANA’S FOREIGN POLICY

Economic Diplomacy: Economic diplomacy has emerged as the cornerstone of

Ghana’s foreign policy objectives. Even though it has always been a part of the country’s foreign policy, economic diplomacy became more fashionable in the 1980’s.The end of the Cold War and the deepening of globalization propelled economic diplomacy to the apex of Ghana’s foreign policy

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LAYERS OF GHANA’S FOREIGN POLICY

Topic One

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LAYERS OF GHANA’S FOREIGN POLICY

These are policies aimed at attracting aid, loans or grants into the country. This layer has remained important to Ghana’s foreign policy owing to dare economic situation Ghana finds herself. Even though it has always been a part of the country’s foreign policy, economic diplomacy became more fashionable in the 1980’s. After the end of the Cold War and the deepening of globalization, has driven economic diplomacy to the apex of Ghana’s foreign policy. In spite of the fact after Nkrumah’s overthrow the NLC shifted to a more pro-Western foreign policy orientation, among other instance of a shift in policy directions, on most parts, Ghana’s foreign policy has been continuous along the path of the four layers highlighted. The subsequent paragraphs would discuss the factors that has accounted for Ghana’s continuous foreign policy along the various layers enumerated above.

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LAYERS OF GHANA’S FOREIGN POLICY

• Extra-African Diplomatic Relation: • Ghana remain active in all international organizations that she is

a member. These include the UN, EU, the Commonwealth, and other organizations (governmental and non-governmental).The country’s extra-African diplomacy also include her dealings with multinational corporations.

• This layer relates to improving Ghana’s relation with the rest of the world other than countries in the West-African sub-region or countries in the African continent. It is also aimed at improving Ghana’s position in international organizations that she is a member. These include the UN, EU, the Commonwealth, and other organizations (governmental and non-governmental). Ghana’s extra-African diplomatic relation also include her dealings with multinational corporations and other non-state actors

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ATTRIBUTES OF GHANA’S FOREIGN POLICY

• Ghana’s colonial history: Ghana has long historical relations with the West, especially Britain, which various regimes could not have avoided in the making of their foreign policy. Even at the height of anti-Western campaign (1961-1966) and the springing up of the philosophy of non-aligned, Dr Nkrumah could not break ties with Britain and her allies. Subsequent governments have all had economic diplomacy with the West owing to Ghana’s colonial antecedents. Even the Acheampong government that was not ready to enter into any relations with the West, later modified his stance and negotiated with the Western creditors on multilateral basis. This shows the extent of relations (bilateral and multilateral) Ghana has had with the West since independence. Therefore, Ghana’s foreign policy has been unchanging because current and previous administrations were only victims of the ‘status quo ante ‘created and passed on from colonial epochs.

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ATTRIBUTES OF GHANA’S FOREIGN POLICY

• Unchanging Foreign Service Officers: Another factor that has contributed to the continuous nature of Ghana’s foreign policy relates to the fact that Foreign Service officers do not change when there is a change of government. There has not been any dramatic change in foreign policy orientation of Ghana, since independence, after various regime changes, owing to the fact that these regime change fail to unleash a new breed of Foreign Service officers who have security of tenure like other public servants. The Foreign Service officials of new political dispensations turn out to be the same group of people who for many years have bureaucratically dictated the country’s foreign policies. Since there had not been any massive Foreign Service staff turnover, and the same old faces parading the corridors of bureaucratic powers, the massive change that normally characterize the transition of power were never experience in Ghana. These unchanging officials have some skills and standard operating procedures that goes to ensure continuity in Ghana’s foreign policies.

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• External factors beyond the control of governments: Other external factor have also contributed to the continuing nature of Ghana’s foreign policy. For example during the era of colonialization, Ghanaian governments were obliged to continue pursuing policies that would be geared towards the liberation of other sister nations in the continent. Although the forms or approaches may not have been the same, successive governments after Nkrumah were forced to pursue inter African relation policies that were directed towards addressing the gruesome outcome of the Apartheid system and the effect of other Cold War conflicts in Africa. Since the massive influx of globalization in the 1990s, Ghana has pursued unchanging economic diplomatic policies to get the best out of globalization. Further, external issues like terrorism and global warming, partly, directed Kufuor’s foreign policy, these external factors contributed to Mills’ foreign policy and are now contributing to the continuity of foreign policy in the current Mahama administration.

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ATTRIBUTES OF GHANA’S FOREIGN POLICY

• Domestic Pressures: Domestic pressures from various civil society organizations, the media, TUC; NUGS; traders; etc. also force government to be in line with previous policy orientations where government attempt to shift foreign policy directions. During the Acheampong era, TUC demonstrated massively against the fall in cocoa prices and the rippling effect it was having on the Ghanaian economy. This in part forced the Acheampong regime to reverse his policies of not dealing with the west. NUGS and TUC also demonstrated against Busia’s ‘Dialogue with Apartheid’ stance. When these civil society groups realized that there was greater shift in Busia’s policies, there was stronger resistance which in part culminated in his overthrow in 1972. The media has had it our share of putting pressure on government to continue pursuing foreign policies in a particular direction. For example, the media came down heavily on the Mills’ government and his infamous ‘Dzi wo fie Asem’ pronouncement. The media criticized the government for trying to change Ghana’s foreign policy direction of supporting its neighbors when they are in need. The Mills Government upon the media pressure, subtly turned back on his policy and actually contributed in ensuing a transition of power in the Ivory Coast.

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• Constitution Imperatives: The 1992 Constitution of Ghana makes some provisions on how Ghana should conduct her foreign policy. Article 40 of the 1992 Constitution for example enjoins Ghana to adhere to the principles contained in the Charter of UN, AU, ECOWAS and other international organizations that Ghana is a member of. Article 35 (2) also obliges government to carryout foreign policies that would safeguard the independent, unity and territorial integrity of Ghana. Finally Article 73 stipulates that Ghana shall conduct her foreign policy in manner that are consistent with principles of public law and diplomacy in a manner consistent with the national interest. So government go, government come, these constitutional provision would be adhered to. And a failure to comply with such ‘provisos’ would amount to an illegality and a constitutional breach.

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SAMPLE QUESTION

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REFERENCE

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