Financing Democracy in Africa, GHANA and NIGERIA

Lead institutions: The University of Ghana (Faculty of Social Studies) and the Center for Democratic and Research Training (CDRT Mambayya House), Bayero University

Conducted by the University of Ghana (Faculty of Social Studies) and the Center for Democratic and Research Training (CDRT Mambayya House) at Bayero University, this research project examines how democracy has been funded in Ghana and Nigeria and the implications of these arrangements. The main questions to be addressed are as follows:

• In financing democracy, what is the level and nature of donor dependency in West Africa?
• What are the effects of international financing of democracy in West African countries?
• Are decisions regarding the democratic processes and structures driven by local demands and perceived needs, or over-determined by donor interests?
• What can African countries do to improve this balance?
• What are the best practices of financing democracy?
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Some of the specific issues to be examined include: (i) strengthening of political parties; (ii) establishment and support of electoral commissions; (iii) financing electoral campaigns and the selection of candidates; (iv)election monitoring (international and regional).