Ghana
In 1957, Ghana was the first African colony to gain independence. Political life was dominated by coup d’états which led to the constitution being suspended in 1981 and the prohibition of political activities. In 1992, Ghana’s new constitution, which allowed for a multi-party system and general elections, was introduced.
Population: 24.8 million
Area: 238 533 km2
GDP (PPP): 38.2 billion dollar (2010 estimate)
GDP per capita (PPP): 1 600 $ (2010 estimate)
Rate of growth: 4.7 % (2010 estimate)
Head of state and head of government: John Evans Atta Mills
The new constitution from 1992 gave Ghana a multi-party system and general elections. Development has since been towards democratic progress.
On the continent of Africa, the Jarl Hjalmarson Foundation cooperates with the Democrat Union of Africa (DUA), which is a member of the International Democrat Union (IDU). In Ghana, the Foundation’s cooperation party is the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Former president John Agyekum Kufuor of the NPP ruled the country between 2001 and 2009. He managed to carry though a number of significant economic reforms. Kufour stepped down in early 2009, after having served the two periods in office allowed by the constitution. After an even election, opposition candidate John Evans Atta Mills of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was elected new president.
Progress in terms of human rights was substantial under Kufour’s rule. Ghana signed most of the UN conventions on human rights when he was elected in 2000. Today, Ghana has one of the most successful democracies in Sub-Saharan Africa (The Economist’s Democracy Index 2010). Freedom of the press has increased, according to the Swedish foreign office. The rule of law, however, is still weak. There are incidents of unjustified arrests and torture.
The overarching goal of the Jarl Hjalmarsson Foundation’s work in Africa is to strengthen its cooperative parties. In this spirit, the Foundation seeks to promote the participation of women and youths in political life.
The Foundation’s activities during 2010 included the participation of women from the NPP in a women’s conference on organization, media and campaign on the Seychelles, as well as the participation of NPP youths in the Swedish parliamentary elections campaign.
