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Posted by Chester Morton / Wednesday 26 September 2018 / No comments
The factors that determine Ghana’s foreign policy
THE FACTORS THAT DETERMINE GHANA'S FOREIGN POLICY
Definition of foreign policy
Foreign policy can be defined as the programmes, relations,
attitudes and the postures a country adopts towards other countries. In other
words, any policy of a country that is directed towards other countries can be
referred to as a foreign policy. There are several factors that can determine a country's posture toward another country in international relations.
FACTORS THAT DETERMINE GHANA’S FOREIGN POLICY
Geographical location
One of the factors that determine Ghana’s foreign policy is
her geographical location in the West Africa sub-region. Ghana is bordered on the east,
west and the north by French-speaking countries of the former French colonial
power. Ghana’s foreign policy towards these former French colonies is that of
friendship and good neighbourliness. By extension, Ghana has developed a good
relationship with the French too who are still the masters, in a certain sense,
of these former French colonies.
Common historical bond
Another factor that determines Ghana’s foreign policy is the
historical bond with her former colonial master and other former colonies of
the former British Empire. After their independence from the British, all
former colonies were constituted into the Commonwealth of Nations. This
historical bond with the former colonies of Britain has influenced Ghana’s
foreign policy towards these nations. This is why Ghana has established High
Commissions in many of these former colonies of the British Empire.
Alliances and treaties
Ever since the attainment of independence, Ghana has formed
alliances with many countries of the world and has signed treaties with some of
them. For example, Ghana has signed up to the ECOWAS treaty and the United
Nations Charter. Membership to these and other international organizations
means that in formulating both national and international policies, Ghana must
be mindful of the treaties and alliances with these nations. In this sense
therefore, Ghana’s foreign policy is greatly determined by her relationship
with these international bodies.
Economic factors
Ghana is a developing country and needs to continue to
develop. Ghana needs foreign direct investment from her development partners.
Ghana needs to sell her raw materials like cocoa, bauxite, manganese into the
international markets. All these economic factors and many more influences the government
of Ghana in the way it relates with other countries and their governments so
that she can continue to benefit from the inflow and outflow of goods and
services.
Current external situations
Sometimes, Ghana’s foreign policy towards other countries is
determined by current external events. For example, when Prof. J.E.A. Atta
Mills was the president of Ghana, there arose a political crisis in La Cote D’Ivoire
which degenerated into armed conflict. President Mills and his government adopted a non-interference
posture and preferred to work behind the seen to try to broker peace between
the warring factions. The happenings in La Cote D’Ivoire at that time
determined Ghana’s policy toward that country.
Ideological factors
Another factor which determines Ghana’s foreign policy is
ideology. After independence, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the first president of Ghana adopted the policy of
non-alignment. That was during the cold war between the United States and the
Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR). Any country which seemed to lean towards
the USSR was considered an enemy of the United States. Any country which leaned
towards the United States was considered an enemy of the USSR. In order to play
is safe, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah played safe by staying in the middle, a foreign
policy which was called a non-alignment policy. With this foreign policy, Ghana
was able to attract funds from the United States to build the Akosombo Dam and
money from the Soviet Union to start a gold refinery in Takwa though that was not completed before his overthrow. Ideological
factors therefore play a major role in the foreign policy of Ghana.
SAMPLE QUESTION(S)
1. a. What is foreign policy?
b. Highlight six
factors that determine the foreign policy of a nation.
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