BRITISH, AMERICAN AND FRENCH POLICY TOWARD GHANA

BRITISH, AMERICAN AND FRENCH POLICY TOWARD GHANA 1996-1998

This research paper examines the contemporary foreign policy of three Western nations - Great Britain, the United States and France - toward the Republic of Ghana. Today, all three countries enjoy amicable relations with Ghana, but the French relationship is relatively insignificant. These Western nations economically and diplomatically support Ghana's efforts to modernize and restructure its economy, to democratize its politics and to play a constructive role in West African affairs. That support is extended on a fairly low-scale, low-risk basis because of the problems the West encountered in dealing with Ghana in the first two decades after it obtained independence and because of economic and political uncertainties in Ghana.

Ghana as a Basket Case after Independence

The British dominated the Gold Coast after the early 19th century and held it as a crown colony from 1902 to 1957. According to Berry, "the years of British administration of the Gold Coast during the twentieth century were an era of significant progress in social, economic, and educational development" (21). After independence and despite substantial Western economic assistance, Ghana under the leadership of its founder, Kwame Nkrumah, degenerated into a one-party dictatorship. Berry says that "constitutional safeguards against authoritarianism were abolished, political opposition was stifled, and, shortly after the 1960 elections

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a are its very high (about 3 percent per annum) rate of population growth and the incidence of HIV/AIDs (2nd highest in West Africa). Despite all its economic progress and its wealth of natural resources, Ghana remains a poor country. Per capita GDP in 1997 was estimated to be $435 (U.S. 39). French Foreign Policy Toward Ghana The French were interested in expanding into the northern Gold Coast in the late 19th century but turned their attention elsewhere in the 1890s when, under understandings with the British, that area was assigned as a British sphere of interest. France enjoys normal commercial and trading relationships with Ghana but is not among the five leading exporters to or importers from Ghana. France participates indirectly in international lending and grants to Ghana through the World Bank, IMF and the foreign aid program of the European Union. Its direct assistance to Ghana is minimal. It has canceled some of Ghana's debts to it, for example, $26 million in 1989 and another small slice in 1991. To celebrate closer economic ties between France and Ghana, Rawlings paid a state visit to Paris in 1991. However, these figures pale in comparison with debt reductions agreed to by West Germany and the United States, r

Category: Foreign - B