Ghana’s democracy faces renewed scrutiny as the country’s Democracy Index plunges to its lowest level in a decade, according to the 2023 Democracy Index report released by the Economic Intelligence Unit.
The report reveals a notable decline in Ghana’s Democracy Index, dropping from 6.43 out of 10 in 2022 to 6.3 out of 10 in 2023. This downward trend reflects a concerning deterioration in the country’s democratic practices over recent years.
In the global ranking, Ghana slipped from 63rd to 65th place, further underscoring the challenges faced in upholding democratic principles. Regionally, Ghana fell to 5th place in Africa, trailing behind Mauritius, Cape Verde, South Africa, and Namibia.
The Democracy Index evaluates countries across five key categories, including electoral process and pluralism, functioning of government, political participation, political culture, and civil liberties.
Notably, Ghana’s lowest score was recorded in the functioning of government, highlighting significant governance challenges.
Globally, the 2023 Democracy Index witnessed a decline to 5.23 out of 10, the lowest level since its inception in 2006. This decline is attributed to various conflicts and wars worldwide, including the Russia-Ukraine war, Azerbaijan’s conquest of Nagorno-Karabakh, civil unrest in Sudan, and conflicts involving Israel and Hamas.
Of the 167 countries and territories covered in the index, only 74 are classified as democracies to some extent. Furthermore, the number of “full democracies” remained stagnant at 24, while the number of “flawed democracies” increased to 50.
However, the most significant regression in the Democracy Index occurred among non-democratic regimes classified as “hybrid regimes” and “authoritarian regimes.” This suggests a troubling trend of increasing authoritarianism and a struggle to democratize in many parts of the world.
The results of the 2023 Democracy Index highlight how urgently coordinated actions to preserve and develop democratic institutions around the world are needed.
The research functions as a wake-up call for Ghana, urging a renewed dedication to democratic values and governance changes in order to stop the decline in the nation’s Democracy Index.
