Ghana’s 2020 Election in the Context of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) and Shrinking Civic Space
Following the adoption of democracy and multiparty systems in 1993, Ghana is considered a ‘beacon of democracy’ in Africa5. The changes in the political landscape of the country have created an opportunity for CSOs to better engage with stakeholders including the government. The political transition to democracy has also created a relatively ‘favourable climate’ which has led to the growth in the number of CSOs operating in the country (Debrah and Graham, 2015). For instance, according to USAID (2019), in 2018, 7,950 CSOs were registered with the Department of Social Welfare. However, this is an underestimation of the actual number of CSOs operating in the country as many fail to register or renew their operating license.
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