Write the introduction for a term paper concerning economic development in Ghana (from political science perspective). Should be around 2 pages double spaced and around 600 words. Can be a little longer. You can remold what I have put underneath, its just a guide. Also provide a clear thesis statement.- The Source is for the quote I put in instructions here. You don’t need to use itmore.

Catchy general opening about Africa and academic theories that have emerged in the West about African development. The evolution from modernization theory, dependency/underdevelopment schools theory and the statist approach amongst others. How have academic approaches to studying Africa evolved? How they try to solve the key economic and political issues the continent has faced since independence.

These theories come from primarily western perspectives. This is not to say it’s intentions were to harm the global south but rather that they did not take in the cultural specificities of African states in mind. Thus, a certain discourse has emerged in Western popular media as a well as academic publications that tends to underestimate the importance of colonialism and the struggle for freedom in Africa among other factors in explaining the continent’s hardships. This is particularly apparent in the narratives emerging from African scholars. As Gaye puts it: (include this quote)

“Many Africans, in the last several years, have called for scholars to develop a new research agenda that would seek to examine the continent and its problems from an African perspective. In other words, this group is calling for a re-examination of the continent’s history and political economy from the point of view of the colonized peoples as opposed to that of the colonizer.” (Gaye, 67)

Thus this paper tries to recenter this debate onto the voices emerging from the region, and to avoid outdated theories that have previously hindered this field. In doing so I will discuss Ghana’s economic development since its independence in 1957. 

– Present Ghana as a country (where it is, what regime type, its greatest strengh being its natural ressources, colonial past).

– Talk about how despite its colonial past and struggle for independence , the country has managed to democratize and affirm itself in the global trading market. this was done mainly through western aid programs from international institutions. + relatively to its neighboring countries, it has done very well.

– However there are limitations to this. Democratic and economic consolidation is tough + problems concerning dependency on Europe.

Therefore the aim of this paper will be to focus on the contextual and political aspects that have shaped economic policy and development in Ghana. I will address what role international financial institutions and the emergence of democratization played in economic growth in Ghana as well as the challenges to economic and democratic consolidation the country faces.