Concordance Civil–Military Relations in Ghana’s Fourth Republic

• Author: Naila Salihu
• Published date: 01 October 2020
• Date: 01 October 2020
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/0095327X19841665
• Subject Matter: Articles

Article

Concordance Civil–

Military Relations

in Ghana’s

Fourth Republic

Naila Salihu

1

Abstract

Civil–military relations in Ghana have a chequered history; since the first coup of

1966, there had been four military takeovers of political power, in 1969, 1972, 1979,

and 1980. Relations are thawing, as evidenced by the fact that there has been no

overt attempt at overthrowing a government since 1992. This article employs a

qualitative approach to data collection and analysis to explain civil–military relations

in Ghana’s Fourth Republic (1992–2018). It argues that there is agreement among

three societal partners—political elites, military, and the citizenry on four variables;

social composition of the officer corps, political decision–making, and recruitment

and military style. Yet focus of the civil–military discourse has been on political elites

and military. These two are vital to the political decision process. Although the third

partner, the citizenry has a meaningful voice, military–society relations fluctuates

over time. There is mixed perceptions among Ghanaian about the armed forces.

Keywords

civil–military relations, Ghana Fourth Republic, concordance

In emerging democracies like Ghana, civil–military relation is often likened to a

two-sided coin. On one side of the coin is the nature of civil–military relations

1

Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, Teshie Road, Accra, Ghana

Corresponding Author:

Naila Salihu, Teshie Road, Accra, PMB CT 210, Ghana.

Email: naila.salihu@gmail.com

Armed Forces & Society

2020, Vol. 46(4) 618-634

ªThe Author(s) 2019

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DOI: 10.1177/0095327X19841665

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together with the evolving and developing political and economic systems. On the

other side is the role of the military in the development process including the making

of peace and stability (Segel & Vajpeji, 2014). The role of military in such societies

is not only for defense and deterrence. They are essentially part of the development

process as they are often called upon to assist in the provision of internal security and

also used to secure regime stability. The general concern often relates to how civilian

authority in such newly democratizing societies can succeed in reducing military

power and establishing effective control over the armed forces (Croissant, Kuehn, &

Chambers, 2013).

Rebecca Schiff, while noting the shortcomings of the earlier, but predominant

approaches to civil–military relations, proffered the concordance theory. This theory

does not suggest a separation of the c ivilian and military sphere but argu es for

partnership or agreement among three societal institutions: the military, political

elites, and citizenry in four areas, namely, the social composition of the officer corps,

political decision-making process, method of recruitment of personnel, and style of

the military. Agreement on these issues should reduce the risk of the military inter-

fering in domestic politics (Schiff, 1995, 2009). Concordance theory requires the

three partners to determine the domestic role and function of the armed forces. This

sets the broader relationship between military and society. The theory recognizes

that the military is not an essentiall y hostile and coercive state institut ion even

though the field of civil–military relations developed as a result of the frequ ent

military interventions in politics.

This articles agrees with the views that there exists no single template according

to which the African civil–military relations systems can be constructed (Williams,

1998). Since the return to constitutional rule in 1992, Ghana has experienced some

relative improvement and thus contri buted to the country’s growing democr atic

credentials. Political changes have been fairly peaceful taking place in accordance

with democratic rules established by the Fourth Republican constitution. The coun-

try has seen three political turnovers between two main political parties, New

Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC), taking turns to

run affairs of the country. In the midst of this political process, the Ghana Armed

Forces (GAF) has gradually metamorphosed from a praetorian military to a profes-

sional defense force. It has been at the forefront in efforts to restor e peace and

security to several countries globally through participation in international peace-

keeping. GAF has progressively earned a global reputation for its professionalism in

international peacekeeping. Ghanaian peacekeepers have served in several missions

around the globe such as Lebanon, Afghanistan, Coˆte d’Ivoire, East Timor, Cam-

bodia, Kosovo, Liberia, Sudan, Rwand a, the Balkans, and Pakistan. Ghana also

contributed to other regional peace operations under subregional Economic Com-

munity of West African States Monitoring Group to help end the bloodshed in

Liberia. Others include Sierra Leone and Coˆte d’Ivoire as well as continental mis-

sions in Somalia and Sudan. Participation in peacekeeping demonstrates Ghana’s

commitment to sustain global peace, security, and stability (Aning & Aubyn, 2013).

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