Abstract
While Ghana continues to ride on a reputation in the international arena as a beacon of democracy in Africa, there is a growing disparity between local feelings towards democracy and international perceptions of democratic consolidation in Ghana. Democratic consolidation is often presented in terms of electoral success, however, serious problems relating to governance and human development remain in Ghana. This paradox is complicated by Ghana-China relations. Given China’s policy of “non-interference,” the country is often charged with undermining democratization in Africa and enabling human rights abuse through the export of Chinese (surveillance) technology. This talk, against the backdrop of Chinese influence, will address these contradictions in Ghana as it marks 66 years of independence and 3 decades of constitutional democracy.