Jeffrey Paller

Dec 10, 2024 | africasacountry.com | Ernest Harsch |Jeffrey Paller |Dennis Laumann

Months before Ghana’s December 7, 2024, election, many Ghanaian commentators were certain of two things. First, despite other contenders on the ballot, one of two dominant parties, the incumbent New Patriotic Party (NPP) or the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), would surely take the helm. Second, neither party would do much to reduce the excessive influence of money politics, which many citizens abhor as a key driver of the corruption that blights their government and society.

Dec 6, 2024 | africasacountry.com | Jeffrey Paller |Sean Jacobs |Dennis Laumann

On December 7, 2024, Ghanaians will go to the polls to exercise what would have been their power if their nation’s democracy had accountability and good governance. In the absence of those key elements, citizens are set to empower a president and 275 parliamentarians who will likely continue the race to the bottom—a trend that has been noted in recent Afrobarometer surveys and good governance indices emphasizing Ghana’s declining democratic fortunes.

May 29, 2024 | thisweekinafrica.substack.com | Jeffrey Paller

South Africans go to the polls today to vote in National and Provincial elections. Polls suggest that the governing ANC is at risk of securing less than 50 percent of the vote, losing its parliamentary majority and being forced to create a coalition government. 33 percent of South Africans are uncommitted. The party has won all six general elections since the transition to democracy in 1994, but the party’s popularity has hit a record low. John Eligon outlines what to know.

Aug 11, 2023 | thisweekinafrica.substack.com | Yewande Komolafe |Jeffrey Paller

Visit Gothenburg at APSA. Here is the week in Africa:Quote of the week“Everyone in the West should be questioning and asking ourselves every day: ‘How has the mass drowning of people become normalized?’” – Journalist Sally HaydenCoup in NigerWest African countries are now deploying “the ECOWAS standby force to restore constitutional order in the republic of Niger.” Learn more about the force here. But the situation remains tenuous.

Feb 24, 2023 | thisweekinafrica.substack.com | Jeffrey Paller

Check out our “Overview of Nigeria’s 2023 elections” before Nigerians go to the polls on Saturday. Here is the week in Africa:Quote of the week“A new Nigeria is possible. For the first time, government is going to care about you.” – Nigerian presidential candidate Peter ObiNigerian electionsOur 2023 Nigerian Election Overview is out!Struggle for rights and freedomThis brief explains how to leverage local elections to advance Somalia’s transition to multi-party democracy.