Journal of Political Science and Leadership Research Ghana’s Democratic Resilience in a Turbulent West African Democratic Landscape: A Comparative Regional Perspective

Abstract

West Africa has recently faced intense democratic turbulence, marked by successive coups in Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Niger between 2020 and 2023, alongside an attempted coup in Benin in 2025. These reversals highlight the fragility of regional democratic institutions. Yet Ghana stands out as a resilient exception. Ghana has sustained multiparty competition, peaceful power transfers, and a vibrant civil society since its return to constitutional rule in 1993. This study employs a systematic thematic review and qualitative comparative analysis grounded in democratic resilience and neo-institutionalist theories to examine why Ghana has resisted authoritarian backsliding while its neighbors have faltered. Drawing on document analysis and secondary data, the study situates Ghana’s experience within the broader regional landscape. Although Ghana faces challenges such as corruption, clientelism, executive dominance, and polarization, it remains one of West Africa’s most stable democracies since 1992. In contrast, Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Niger have succumbed to coups, whereas Nigeria, Benin, and Senegal exhibit hybrid democratic trajectories with mixed governance records. The study underscores that democracy in West Africa is not uniformly fragile; resilience is possible when institutions, civil society, and external actors reinforce legitimacy beyond electoral politics. The case of Ghana demonstrates that democratic survival requires vigilance, reform, inclusive governance, and accountability. Ultimately, the research contributes to debates on African democratization by emphasizing adaptability, institutional autonomy, and resilience as critical to regional democratic stability.