CDD-Ghana holds public lecture on political polarization

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Created on Saturday, 13 April 2013 00:00

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CDD-Ghana holds public lecture on political polarization

A retired Supreme Court Judge and former Chairman of the Electoral Commission of Ghana, Justice V.C.R.A.C Crabbe will deliver a public lecture on political polarization at the British Council Hall on Thursday April 18, 2013 at 5: 30 pm.

The Kronti ne Akwamu lecture is the Center’s flagship annual public lecture on democracy and good governance. It is one of the Center’s initiatives aimed towards bridging the gap between reflection, research and analysis on one hand, and pro-democracy and good governance advocacy on the other. Therefore, it is aimed at enriching the quality of public discourse on democratic and governance reforms.

The theme for this year’s lecture “Democratic Governance in Ghana: How Political Polarization May be Abated is meant to draw attention to the widening epidemic of political polarization which appears to be undermining the country’s credentials as a burgeoning democracy in sub Saharan Africa.

Indeed, this year 2013, marks 20 years since constitutional rule was restored in Ghana.

During this period, the country has held six successful competitive multiparty elections. Although these elections have been adjudged to be generally peaceful and relatively credible, multi-party politics in Ghana continuous to be plagued by challenges such as incumbency abuse, bitter and highly acrimonious governance and policy making, among others. The party in government and their counterparts in opposition are constantly engaged in brinkmanship, which often compromises unity and national development.

This year’s lecture, which is the 9th in the series of lectures, seeks to initiate a national reflection on political polarization, possible causes and effects, and most importantly develop propositions to curtail this political menace.

The Speaker of this year’s lecture, His Lordship Justice V.C.R.A.C Crabbe is Ghana’s sole Statute Law Revision Commissioner at the Ministry of Justice and a former Justice of the Supreme Court of Ghana. With over 30 years’ meritorious service behind him, Justice Crabbe has contributed significantly to the growth and development of Constitutional law in Ghana.

He was Chairman of the 1979 Constituent Assembly that drafted the 1979 Constitution and was draftsman to the 1968 Constituent Assembly that drafted the 1969 Constitution.

Justice Crabbe was a Professor of Legislative Drafting at the University of West Indies, and a former Director of the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Scheme for Legislative Draftsmen for West, East, Southern and Central Africa and the Caribbean. He was a Senior Instructor at the International Law Development Center at Rome, Italy, and currently serves as Co-Chair of the Coalition for Domestic Election Observers, (CODEO).

Source: CDD Ghana