Democratic Stability in Sub-Saharan Africa: Reflections on the Fourth Republic of Ghana

Most states in sub-Saharan Africa face a legitimacy crisis. This has affected the kind of democracy practised on the continent. Political instability has taken place in many states within the region and this is attributed to a lack of state legitimacy. Scholars and observers praise and adjudge Ghana's Fourth Republic as the yardstick for other democracies in the region, yet its electoral processes are characterised by violence and conflicts mainly between the two 'major' political parties. This study sought to find out how the Fourth Republic has been able to survive through this acrimonious environment. It qualitatively analysed data from secondary sources to assess how conflict and cooperation occur within the Fourth Republic. This paper argued that the success of the Fourth Republic is due to a successful mediation of conflicts among political players and the advances in the democratic culture of tolerance for opposing political beliefs. It recommended strong institutional independence to enable the country to effectively address political conflicts.