Author: E. Gyimah-Boadi | Journal of Democracy

E. Gyimah-Boadi, former professor at the University of Ghana, Legon, is cofounder and executive director of Afrobarometer, as well as founder and former executive director of the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana). His books include Public Opinion, Democracy, and Market Reform in Africa (2005).

July 2021, Volume 32, Issue 3

Africans’ Durable Demand for Democracy

The latest survey wave finds Africans with a still-robust demand for democratic governance, unblunted by covid or Chinese influence. Can governments deliver?

July 2019, Volume 30, Issue 3

Aspirations and Realities in Africa: Democratic Delivery Falls Short

E. Gyimah-Boadi

Data from the latest wave of the Afrobarometer survey show that Africans’ demand for liberal democracy remains high. The problem lies in lagging supply.

January 2015, Volume 26, Issue 1

Africa’s Waning Democratic Committment

E. Gyimah-Boadi

Since the mid-2000s, democratization in Africa has faltered, in large part due to its elites’ waning commitment to democracy.

July 2012, Volume 23, Issue 3

Oil, Politics, and Ghana’s Democracy

Ghana has won praise for its steady progress toward democratic consolidation. In late 2010 it joined the ranks of the world’s oil producers. Will the democratic institutions be able to resist the “resource curse”?

April 2009, Volume 20, Issue 2

Another Step Forward for Ghana

E. Gyimah-Boadi

Ghana held its fourth successful elections in late 2008 and subsequently witnessed the peaceful handover of power from ruling party to opposition. The country’s leaders must now reform its institutions of governance.

April 2001, Volume 12, Issue 2

A Peaceful Turnover in Ghana

E. Gyimah-Boadi

With longtime ruler Jerry Rawlings obeying constitutional term limits, the opposition won a narrow electoral victory, bringing Ghana its first peaceful transfer of power since independence.

October 1999, Volume 10, Issue 4

Debating Democracy Assistance: The Cost of Doing Nothing

E. Gyimah-Boadi

Read the full essay here.

April 1998, Volume 9, Issue 2

African Ambiguities: The Rebirth of African Liberalism

E. Gyimah-Boadi

Read the full essay here.

April 1997, Volume 8, Issue 2

Ghana’s Encouraging Elections: The Challenges Ahead

E. Gyimah-Boadi

Read the full essay here.

April 1996, Volume 7, Issue 2

Civil Society in Africa

E. Gyimah-Boadi

Read the full essay here.

April 1994, Volume 5, Issue 2

Ghana’s Uncertain Political Opening

E. Gyimah-Boadi

Read the full essay here.

The Self-Restraining State: Power and Accountability in New Democracies

"[This] elegantly written and rigorously structured volume … constitutes an important landmark in the comparative study of democratization."—Carlos Santiso, Forum for Development Studies

Assessing the Quality of Democracy

"An important milestone in the study of democratic quality, and an excellent resource for both scholarly researchers and graduate courses on comparative democracy and democratization."—Daunis Auerson, Political Studies Review

Democratization in Africa: Progress and Retreat

At a time when democracy seems to be in retreat in many parts of the world, Africa presents a more mixed picture. Democratization in Africa: Progress and Retreat brings into focus the complex landscape of African politics by pairing broad analytical surveys with country-specific case studies.