phd in political science in ghana

24 Best universities for Political Science in Ghana

Updated: February 29, 2024

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Below is a list of best universities in Ghana ranked based on their research performance in Political Science. A graph of 252K citations received by 26.3K academic papers made by 24 universities in Ghana was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. University of Ghana

For Political Science

2. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

3. University of Cape Coast

4. University for Development Studies

5. Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration

6. University of Education, Winneba

7. University of Professional Studies, Accra

8. University of Health and Allied Sciences

9. Kumasi Technical University

10. Central University

11. University of Energy and Natural Resources

12. Ho Technical University

13. Pentecost University College

14. Ghana Technology University College

15. University of Mines and Technology

16. Catholic University College of Ghana

17. Presbyterian University College

18. Islamic University College, Ghana

19. Cape Coast Technical University

20. Methodist University College

21. Accra Technical University

22. Christian Service University College

23. Garden City University College

24. Radford University College

The best cities to study Political Science in Ghana based on the number of universities and their ranks are Legon , Kumasi , Cape Coast , and Tamale .

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in Ghana

• Postgraduate

Graduate Academic Programmes

The following programmes are available for the 2023/2024 academic year.

COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES

SCHOOL OF LANGUAGES

MA/MPHIL/PHD PROGRAMMES

SCHOOL OF ARTS

SCHOOL OF PERFORMING ARTS

SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES MA/MPHIL/PHD PROGRAMMES

INSTITUTE OF STATISTICAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC RESEARCH

CENTRE FOR SOCIAL POLICY STUDIES

REGIONAL INSTITUTE FOR POPULATION STUDIES

LEGON CENTRE FOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS AND DIPLOMACY

CENTRE FOR AGEING STUDIES

MA PROGRAMMES

CENTRE FOR MIGRATION STUDIES

INSTITUTE OF AFRICAN STUDIES

UNIVERSITY OF GHANA BUSINESS SCHOOL

MA /MSC/MBA/MPHIL/PHD PROGRAMMES

UNIVERSITY OF GHANA BUSINESS SCHOOL SPECIAL WEEK-END /EXECUTIVE MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION PROGRAMMES

For enquiries on Business School programmes, please click to visit their website .

UNIVERSITY OF GHANA SCHOOL OF LAW

LLM/MA PROGRAMMES   LLM/MA Alternate Dispute Resolution LLM/MA Corporate and Commercial Law LLM/MA Energy Law LLM/MA Financial Markets Law and Regulation LLM/MA in Gender and the Law LLM/MA Health Law and Ethics LLM/MA in Human Rights Law and Practice LLM/MA Information Technology Law LLM/MA International Law LLM/MA Labour Law and Practice LLM/MA Law and Development LLM/MA Law and Practice of Public Administration LLM/MA in Law for Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises LLM/MA Law of the Sea and Ocean Governance LLM/MA Maritime Law LLM/MA Natural Resources Law LLM/MA National Security Law and Practice LLM/MA Paralegal Practice LLM/MA Tax Law, Policy and Practice

For enquiries on SCHOOL OF LAW programmes, please click to visit their website .

PhD PROGRAMME click to visit their website .

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

SCHOOL OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION STUDIES MA/MPHIL/PHD PROGRAMMES

SCHOOL OF CONTINUING AND DISTANCE EDUCATION

SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP

MA/MPHIL PROGRAMME

COLLEGE OF BASIC AND APPLIED SCIENCES

SCHOOL OF PHYSICAL AND MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES

MSC/MPHIL/PHD PROGRAMMES

SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

INSTITUTE FOR ENVIRONMENT AND SANITATION STUDIES

CENTRE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE AND SUSTAINABILITY DEVELOPMENT

SCHOOL OF NUCLEAR AND ALLIED SCIENCES

MPHIL/PHD PROGRAMMES

SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING SCIENCES

MENG/MPHIL/PhD PROGRAMMES

COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES

SCHOOL OF BIOMEDICAL AND ALLIED HEALTH SCIENCES

MSC/MPHILPROGRAMMES

SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH

SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH SPECIAL WEEKEND PROGRAMME

SCHOOL OF NURSING AND MIDWIFERY

UNIVERSITY OF GHANA MEDICAL SCHOOL

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Political Science, PhD

University of Ghana, Ghana

• Study options for Political Science
• About Political Science

Courses you may be interested in at other institutions

Other courses at university of ghana, study options for this course, about political science, phd - at university of ghana.

Please visit the University of Ghana web site for further information.

Entry requirements for this course

Contact University of Ghana to find course entry requirements.

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If you do not meet the entry requirements for this course then consider one of these postgraduate preparation courses from another institution:

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There are 232 other courses listed from University of Ghana. A selection of these are displayed below:

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Related Information

Find out more about studying in Ghana

FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCE

Kwame nkrumah university of science & technology, history & political studies.

We welcome you to the Department of History and Political Studies at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). The Department runs two of the most sought-after academic programmes in the Humanities and Social Sciences. Our History and Political Studies programmes have been run as one of the composite courses of the B.A. (Social Sciences) programme since 1971 and 2006 respectively. The Department’s two streams of programmes are each structured on a four-year curriculum, leading to the award of a B. A. in History or a B. A. in Political Studies. We offer a wide range of exciting courses at the undergraduate level, both in literature and in language. The curriculum is carefully structured to ensure it delivers on training, problem solvers and critical thinkers for employment in various sectors of the national economy and beyond.

Our graduate programmes are one of a kind in the higher educational landscape in Ghana. We are the only Department that offers Master of Arts in Asante History. A well-planned programme that is purposefully crafted to serve as the gateway to Asante’s history, politics and society as a whole. We also have on offer: Master of Philosophy in Historical Studies, Master of Philosophy in Political Science and a doctoral programme in Historical Studies; while plans are well advanced to roll out a doctoral programme in Political Science. Our Master of Public Administration in Political Science programme is training a new class of professional and ethical administrators for work in the public and private sectors.  

Our aim is to train students to aspire to be outstanding in their various fields and endeavours. As a result, both undergraduate and graduate programmes programmes have produced a large number of graduates working in diverse fields including legal and judicial professions, teachers at secondary and tertiary levels, researchers, information managers, librarians, tourism experts, international civil servants, private and public archive managers, public administrators, politicians. We have also trained personnel who have taken up careers in Non-Governmental Organizations, Police Service, Armed Forces, banking, editorial and publishing work, as well as private business management.

Click here for more information on the Department of History & Politics.

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PhD COURSE DESCRIPTION    

University of Ghana School of Law

Doctor of Philosophy of Law The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD ) is a research-intensive degree and the most advanced degree offered by the University of Ghana School of Law. The rationale for the PhD programme is to provide advanced training for scholars to deepen and broaden their understanding of Law. The programme is designed to  transform these scholars into producers of knowledge, capable of expanding the frontiers of the law to achieve policy goals and sustainable development. While the programme is aimed at developing important transferable academic skills, it also responds to the need to produce high calibre teachers for the various law Faculties in Ghana.

OBJECTIVES The objective of the PhD programme is to:     (a)    To enable students to acquire critical thinking and research skills to become producers of knowledge in their area of specialization. (b)    Prepare students for opportunities in teaching, research, and policy development. (c)    Facilitate the acquisition of substantive knowledge in a given field of law. (d)    Expose students to a range of methodological approaches to legal research. (e)    Contribute significantly to the teaching and research pedigree of the University of Ghana.

The PhD courses run by the School are as follows: •    FLAW 701  - Philosophical Approaches to the Study of Law •    FLAW 702  -  Comparative and Interdisciplinary Perspectives on the Study of Law and Society                       •    FLAW 703  -  Advanced Legal Research Methodologies •    FLAW 704  -  Legal Aspects of Regional Integration in Africa •    FLAW 705  -  Law and Development in Africa •    FLAW 706  -  Trends in Legal Pedagogy •    FLAW 707  -  Legal Traditions of the World •    FLAW 708  -  Gender and International Legal Studies •    FLAW 709  -  Advanced Constitutional Law •    FLAW 712  -  Advanced International Commercial Arbitration

BRIEF DETAILS ON EACH OF THE PhD COURSES:

FLAW 701:    Philosophical Approaches to the Study of Law This course aims to provide students with the opportunity to undertake a detailed study of the philosophical approaches to the study of law. This course provides students with a selective overview of major developments in legal theory through the 20th and into the 21st century. It is intended to provide grounding for further jurisprudential work by students during their studies. Topics include legal realism, utilitarianism, feminism, post-modernism, and structuralism, among other theories of law.

FLAW 702:    Comparative and Interdisciplinary Perspectives on the Study of Law and Society This course seeks to provide an overview of a range of approaches to comparative and interdisciplinary research in law. It introduces students to a wide range of interdisciplinary, critical, and socio-legal scholarship. Additionally, it enables students to engage with the law from several distinct disciplinary perspectives including economics, geography, philosophy, sociology, and political science. The course will also explore the multiple ways in which theory and method are intertwined in legal research. Topics include Law and Economics, Law and Geography, Legal Pluralism, and Law and Society.

FLAW 703:    Advanced Legal Research Methodologies This course is designed to give students a detailed insight into a variety of theoretical approaches to legal research and to the methods and methodologies used in academic legal research. This course is intended to improve skills in research methodology, and qualitative and quantitative analyses. Specific topics include hypothesis testing; techniques of effective proposal writing; approaches to legal research; and the ethics of legal research.

FLAW 704:    Legal Aspects of Regional Integration in Africa This course will focus on the legal dimensions of regional economic, social, and political integration in Africa. The course employs a relational framework as the fulcrum of analyses to address the problems of integration and thus aid Africa’s long-term political and economic growth. Topics include the theories of integration, the political economy of regional integration, and the fundamental obstacles to regional integration in Africa

FLAW 705:    Law and Development in Africa This course examines the scope, strengths, and limitations of law as an instrument of development and explores how law can be consciously used to aid human, socio-political, and economic development in Africa. Focusing on the national, regional, and international perspectives on the issues in question, the course explores the contributions that law, legal theory, and legal institutions can make toward the realisation of development in Africa. The course thus draws on other disciplines such as Economics, Sociology, and Political Science. Topics include Theories of Law and Development, Political Governance in Arica, Corruption, Mismanagement of Resources, and Poverty in Africa.

FLAW 706:    Trends in Legal Pedagogy This course provides opportunities for students to discuss various methods employed in law teaching. Some of the approaches include the Socratic methods, experiential learning techniques, the clinical teaching method, and the multi-disciplinary and trans-systemic legal pedagogy. Topics include Pedagogy vs Andragogy, Technology, and Experiential learning.

FLAW 707:    Legal Traditions of the World This is a comparative study of the legal traditions of the World. The course affords an opportunity to study the major legal traditions that have influenced the world. Topics include the origins, geographic locations, and the main tenets of the common law legal tradition, the civil law legal tradition, the Islamic legal tradition, and the indigenous legal tradition.

FLAW 708:     Gender and International Legal Studies Gender and International Legal Studies uses gendered theory to engage with systems and institutions of political, social, economic, legal, and cultural power. The course examines gender roles and relations as a form of power to organize society, institutions, rights, responsibilities, and access to resources. Topics taught include Feminist Theory and Masculinity, Gender and International Security, and Gender and Disability.

FLAW 709:    Advanced Constitutional Law This course provides a comprehensive understanding of the different purposes and functions of the Constitution of Ghana. While the focus of the course is the Ghanaian constitutional system, the course will draw on insights from other jurisdictions, thus, providing an introduction to the field of comparative constitutional law. The course also examines a range of rights-related features of the Ghanaian Constitution and investigates issues such as the effectiveness of constitutions at protecting human rights and democratic government. Topics include the role of the Supreme Court in the growth of the 1992 Constitution and understanding the electoral systems of major jurisdictions of the world.

FLAW 712:     Advanced International Commercial Arbitration This course undertakes an in-depth study of specific topics in international commercial arbitration from both a theoretical and practical perspective. It also provides a critical analysis of the principles and law of international commercial arbitration, including the legal foundation for international arbitration, the international soft law applicable to the conduct of international arbitrations, and the various legal issues that arise in the recognition and enforcement of international arbitration agreements and the resulting arbitral awards.  

BSc.Political Science

Description.

The programme is designed to meet the growing demand for capacity in the field of politics, governance and development. This involves equipping students with thorough knowledge in, and critical understanding of the different theoretical approaches to investigating the politics and governance of development in ways that shape their capacity and commitment to influence the development discourse. The programme’s curriculum offers a broad range of academic disciplines aimed at deepening students’ knowledge and insights into powerful force driving human interaction today, namely politics and governance in Ghana and the world at large. Students will learn about how political power is managed and distributed, how governments operate, how laws are made and changed, and everything from elections to how state institutions function

The Political Science programme at KAAF aims to produce graduates with knowledge and a good understanding of how politics shapes governance and development in Ghana, and across the globe, within a broader political economic context. Graduates will develop academic competences in transferable skills, including developing reasoned arguments, organizing and using evidence and information from a wide variety of sources and undertaking both team based and independent work on issues of politics and governance, towards forging capacities to help shape inclusive development in Ghana

In addition to the minimum university entry requirements, candidates seeking admission into the first year of the four-year undergraduate degree programme in Political Science must meet the following requirements:

Pass the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSSCE) with credit passes (A-D) in English Language, Core Mathematics, Social Studies or Integrated Science, plus three relevant elective subjects.

Pass the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) with credit passes (A1-C6) in English Language, Core Mathematics, Social Studies or Integrated Science, plus three relevant elective subjects.

Pass the General Business Certificate Examination (GBCE) with credit passes (A-D) in English Language, Core Mathematics, Social Studies or Integrated Science, plus three relevant elective subjects.

Pass the General Certificate of Education (GCE)-Advanced Level with credit passes (Grade 6) in five GCE Ordinary Level subjects, including English Language, Mathematics and a Science subject (for non-science students) and an Arts subject (for science students), plus passes in three GCE Advanced level subjects (at least one of the passes should be Grade D or better).

A good pass in Higher National Diploma (HND) – (i.e., at least 2nd Class Lower Division), including a 2-year post-HND qualification working experience. In addition, Diploma qualifications from elsewhere assessed to be equivalent to HND may be considered for Top up and students may be placed at level 300.

A full Diploma Certificate in Advanced Business Certificate Examination (ABCE) with credit passes in five (5) subjects including English Language, Mathematics, Integrated Science or Social Studies in the General Business Certificate Examination (GBCE) or Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSSCE) or West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE).

ABCE candidates may be considered for admission at level 200 of the degree programme. The applicant must be at least 25 years old, and show proof of age with birth certificate or any legitimate documentary proof of birth date which is at least 5 years old at the time of application. Applicant must also pass an Entrance Examination and interview.

Study Options:

• Regular (day)

Available PhD Programmes for 2022/23 Year

A. college of agriculture and natural resources.

DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL SCIENCE

• Doctor of Philosophy Animal Breeding and Genetics
• Doctor of Philosophy Reproductive Physiology
• Doctor of Philosophy Animal Nutrition
• Doctor of Philosophy Meat Science

DEPARTMENT OF CROP AND SOIL SCIENCES

• Doctor of Philosophy Agronomy
• Doctor of Philosophy Crop Physiology
• Doctor of Philosophy Forage Production and Management
• Doctor of Philosophy Nematology
• Doctor of Philosophy Plant Breeding
• Doctor of Philosophy Plant Entomology
• Doctor of Philosophy Plant Pathology
• Doctor of Philosophy Plant Virology
• Doctor of Philosophy Soil Science

DEPARTMENT OF HORTICULTURE

• Doctor of Philosophy Postharvest Technology
• Doctor of Philosophy Seed Science and Technology
• Doctor of Philosophy Fruit Crops Production
• Doctor of Philosophy Landscape Studies
• Doctor of Philosophy Vegetable Crops Production
• Doctor of Philosophy Horticulture

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS, AGRIBUSINESS AND EXTENSION

• Doctor of Philosophy Agribusiness Management
• Doctor of Philosophy Agricultural Economics
• Doctor of Philosophy Agricultural Extension and Development Communication

DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND RANGE MANAGEMENT

• Doctor of Philosophy Wildlife and Range Management

DEPARTMENT OF SILVICULTURE AND FOREST MANAGEMENT

• Doctor of Philosophy Silviculture and Forest Management

DEPARTMENT OF AGROFORESTRY

• Doctor of Philosophy Agroforestry

DEPARTMENT OF WOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY  MANAGEMENT

• Doctor of Philosophy Wood Science
• Doctor of Philosophy Wood Technology

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES AND WATERSHED MANAGEMENT

• Doctor of Philosophy  Aquaculture
• Doctor of Philosophy Aquaculture and Environment
• Doctor of Philosophy Fisheries Management
• Doctor of Philosophy Watershed Management

B. COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

FACULTY OF LAW

• Doctor of Philosophy Law

DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS

• Doctor of Philosophy Economics

DEPARTMENT OF MODERN LANGUAGES

• Doctor of Philosophy French

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH

• Doctor of Philosophy English

DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

• Doctor of Philosophy Geography and Rural Development

DEPARTMENT OF RELIGIOUS STUDIES

• Doctor of Philosophy Religious Studies

DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY AND POLITICAL STUDIES

• Doctor of Philosophy in Historical Studies

C. COLLEGE OF ART AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT

DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE

• Doctor of Philosophy Architecture

DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT

• Doctor of Philosophy Building Technology
• Doctor of Philosophy Construction Management

DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING

• Doctor of Philosophy Development Studies
• Doctor of Philosophy Planning

DEPARTMENT OF LAND ECONOMY

• Doctor of Philosophy Land Management

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONAL INNOVATIONS IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

• Doctor of Philosophy Art Education
• Doctor of Philosophy African Art and Culture

DEPARTMENT OF PAINTING AND SCULPTURE

• Doctor of Philosophy Painting
• Doctor of Philosophy Sculpture
• Doctor of Philosophy Painting and Sculpture

DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL ART

• Doctor of Philosophy Fashion Design Technology
• Doctor of Philosophy Textile Design Technology

D. COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACEUTICS

• Doctor of Philosophy Pharmaceutics
• Doctor of Philosophy Pharmaceutical Microbiology

DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACOGNOSY

• Doctor of Philosophy Pharmacognosy

DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACEUTICAL CHEMISTRY

• Doctor of Philosophy Pharmaceutical Chemistry

DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACY PRACTICE

• Doctor of Philosophy Clinical Pharmacy
• Doctor of Philosophy Social Pharmacy

DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACOLOGY

• Doctor of Philosophy Pharmacology

DEPARTMENT OF MOLECULAR MEDICINE

• Doctor of Philosophy Chemical Pathology
• Doctor of Philosophy Molecular Medicine
• Doctor of Philosophy Immunology

DEPARTMENT OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY

• Doctor of Philosophy Clinical Microbiology

DEPARTMENT OF ANATOMY AND CELL BIOLOGY

• Doctor of Philosophy Human Anatomy and Cell Biology Programme
• Doctor of Philosophy Human Anatomy and Forensic Science Programme           

SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH

• Doctor of Philosophy Public Health

E. COLLEGE OF SCIENCE

DEPARTMENT OF BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY

• Doctor of Philosophy Human Nutrition and Dietetics
• Doctor of Philosophy Biochemistry
• Doctor of Philosophy Biotechnology
• Doctor of Philosophy Biodata Analytics and Computational Genomics

DEPARTMENT OF FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

• Doctor of Philosophy Food Science and Technology

DEPARTMENT OF THEORETICAL AND APPLIED BIOLOGY

• Doctor of Philosophy Parasitology
• Doctor of Philosophy Ecology
• Doctor of Philosophy Entomology
• Doctor of Philosophy Plant/Animal Physiology
• Doctor of Philosophy Microbiology
• Doctor of Philosophy Reproductive Biology
• Doctor of Philosophy Plant/Animal Systematics
• Doctor of Philosophy Molecular Biology
• Doctor of Philosophy Fish and Fisheries Science

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY

• Doctor of Philosophy Chemistry
• Doctor of Philosophy Organic and Natural Products
• Doctor of Philosophy Analytical Chemistry
• Doctor of Philosophy Environmental Chemistry
• Doctor of Philosophy Physical Chemistry
• Doctor of Philosophy Inorganic Chemistry

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS

• Doctor of Philosophy Geophysics

DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS AND ACTUARIAL SCIENCE

• Doctor of Philosophy Mathematical Statistics
• Doctor of Philosophy Actuarial Science

DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS

• Doctor of Philosophy Pure Mathematics
• Doctor of Philosophy Applied Mathematics

DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE

• Doctor of Philosophy Information Technology
• Doctor of Philosophy Computer Science

DEPARTMENT OF OPTOMETRY AND VISUAL SCIENCE

• Doctor of Philosophy Vision Science

F. COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

• Doctor of Philosophy Water Resources Engineering and Management.
• Doctor of Philosophy Water Supply and Treatment Technologies
• Doctor of Philosophy Environmental Sanitation and Waste Management
• Doctor of Philosophy Structural Engineering
• Doctor of Philosophy Geotechnical Engineering
• Doctor of Philosophy Highway and Transportation Engineering
• Doctor of Philosophy Climate Change and Land Use

DEPARTMENT OF GEOMATIC ENGINEERING

• Doctor of Philosophy Geomatic Engineering

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING

• Doctor of Philosophy Electrical Engineering

DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERING

• Doctor of Philosophy Telecommunications Engineering

DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER ENGINEERING

• Doctor of Philosophy Computer Engineering

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

• Doctor of Philosophy Chemical Engineering

DEPARTMENT OF MATERIALS ENGINEERING

• Doctor of Philosophy Materials Engineering

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL AND BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEERING

• Doctor of Philosophy Agricultural Machinery Engineering
• Doctor of Philosophy Agricultural Engineering
• Doctor of Philosophy Agro-Environmental Engineering
• Doctor of Philosophy Bioengineering
• Doctor of Philosophy Food and Post-Harvest Engineering
• Doctor of Philosophy Soil and Water Engineering

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

• Doctor of Philosophy Mechanical Engineering

DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGICAL ENGINEERING

•   Doctor of Philosophy Geological Engineering

The Vicissitudes of Political Science in Ghana

• First Online: 01 January 2014

Cite this chapter

• Joseph R. A. Ayee 4 &
• Maame A. A. Gyekye-Jandoh 5  

556 Accesses

The discipline of Political Science has had intriguing vicissitudes since its inception largely because of its relevance to the development of states in both the developed and developing countries. The several concepts that it deals with—such as the state, society power, authority, sovereignty, leadership, democracy, governance, conflict, policy and globalization—are germane not only to the seminal and current literature but also progress and transformation. Against this background, the chapter discusses the evolution of Political Science as an academic discipline in Ghana and its nature and scope. Specifically, it deals with curriculum transformation, ideology and philosophy, methods, empirical underpinnings and policy relevance. The chapter concludes that the future of Political Science is bright because it has a clear trajectory and will continue to contribute to the debate over the needs and concerns of the man in the street, the changing role of the state in all jurisdictions and the realization of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

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In an informal discussion with Joseph Ayee in 2007a , b , a former Registrar of the University of Ghana, Teddy Konu recollected his desire to read Political Science in the late 1960s but was not allowed to do so by the then Head of Department.

This emphasis on quantitative analysis is true of the curricula of most Political Science departments in the United States of America.

Culled from POLI 301 Ancient and Medieval Political Thought course outline for 1st semester, 2011/2012, Department of Political Science, University of Ghana.

For example, see works underpinned by a liberal political philosophy such as Ayee ( 2001 ); Gyimah-Boadi ( 1999 ); Bluwey ( 2002 ); Boafo-Arthur ( 2006 ); Drah and Ninsin ( 1993 ); Ninsin ( 1993 , 1998); Oquaye ( 1995 , 2004).

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Ayee, J., Gyekye-Jandoh, M. (2014). The Vicissitudes of Political Science in Ghana. In: Agyei-Mensah, S., Ayee, J., Oduro, A. (eds) Changing Perspectives on the Social Sciences in Ghana. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8715-4_9

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Political Science Theses and Dissertations

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The Power and Authority of the Committee On the Rights of the Child , Aleksandra Chauhan

Does Foreign Direct Investment (Fdi) Affect Conflict? theIntertwined Relationship Between Multinational Corporations (Mncs) and Nation-States , Yi-Hung Chiou

Counterinsurgency Colonels: The Role of the Practitioner In the Evolution of Modern Counterinsurgency , Garrett Scott DeWitt

The Geometry of Racial Politics: The Role of Policy Entrepreneurs In Fostering Triangulation Among U.S. Racial and Ethnic Groups, 1800-1964 , Athena M. King

Passionate Political Talk: Social Networks and the Emotional Impact of Political Discussion , Bryan Michael Parsons

Judges and Their Loyalties: A Comparative Study Focused On the Venezuelan Supreme Court , Raul A. Sanchez Urribarri

International Law In the Supreme Court of the United States: An Empirical Analysis , Alan Michael Tauber

Theses/Dissertations from 2009 2009

Wolves In Chic Clothing: Gender, Media and the Securitization of Female Suicide Bombers , Mekell Mikell

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Global Democracy Conference 2024

Time: Tue May 21, 2024, All Day

Location: Multiple Locations on Campus

The Global Democracy Conference (GDC), organized by the Kellogg Institute for International Studies , is an integral component of the broader University of Notre Dame Global Democracy Initiative designed to connect academic research and non-academic audiences. It will be an annual forum that projects the University as a leader and convener on questions of democracy, while simultaneously facilitating positive, tangible impact on global democratic practices.

With the theme "Understanding Today, Shaping Tomorrow," the inaugural GDC will see the Kellogg Institute convene leading defenders of global democracy at the University of Notre Dame for a series of profound, actionable conversations about the state of democracy around the world. Animated by our understanding of the multidimensional, complex nature of democratic erosion, this conference will i) identify emerging challenges to democracies and possible solutions; ii) highlight the research being undertaken by Notre Dame in order to have meaningful impact in the world of policy; and iii) convene global actors that will help lay the foundation for partnerships with institutions and leaders who might utilize our research in protecting local democratic structures.

The GDC includes two types of sessions: panels, in which participants make formal, 12-minute presentations, and roundtables, which follow a conversational format led by a moderator. Sessions are organized in three thematic blocs:

• New Ideas. Panels primarily formed by academics. They present original research on democracy to a broader audience, emphasizing the substantive relevance of their findings and mapping ongoing debates in the field. A practitioner may discuss how this line of research is relevant to practice.
• The State of the World. Roundtables formed by academics and practitioners. They assess the state of democracy in particular countries or regions, with a particular interest in the near future.
• The Path Forward. Sessions focused on practical lessons to protect and promote democratic governance. Those sessions may take the form of panels or roundtables and may include practitioners or academics. Of particular interest are sessions focusing on particular sectors, such as industries (e.g., technology, finance) or professional fields (e.g., international law) discussing their ability to strengthen democracy.

Our inaugural event is in part generously underwritten by Bert Piedra , a 1978 graduate of the University of Notre Dame and member of the Kellogg Institute Advisory Board.

For more information, visit kellogg.nd.edu .

Originally published at forum2023.nd.edu .

Graduate profiles

Meet the class of 2024, harvard college.

Meet more Harvard College graduates

Isabella Madrigal

Isabella’s senior thesis screenplay, a genre-bending family drama full of magical realism, centers the issues of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, and two-spirit people.

Read more about Isabella

Dora Woodruff

Dora will next pursue a Ph.D. at MIT in algebraic combinatorics, a branch of mathematics that applies methods found in abstract algebra to discrete counting problems.

Aaron Shirley

Aaron dove into the world of medieval medicine with his thesis, “Holiness to Wholeness: Restoring Medieval Surgery to its Religious Cultural Context.”

Harvard Business School

Meet more HBS graduates

Davida Bynum

As a dual-degree candidate studying business and government, Davida is exploring the best ways to serve the public and private sectors.

Eduardo Avalos

With a focus on social entrepreneurship, Eduardo is hoping to create more equitable opportunities for those with fewer resources and less access.

Claudia Hill

By combining a degree in biomedical engineering with an M.B.A., Claudia plans to change millions of lives by creating life-saving drugs that can be distributed equitably.

Harvard Divinity School

Meet more Divinity School graduates

The growth I’ve experienced at HDS, both personal and academic, has been beyond anything I expected.” Samirah Jaigirdar Master of Theological Studies Learn more about Samirah’s studies

Jude Terna Ayua

Jude says his time at HDS changed his perspective about other faith traditions. After graduation, he will work as a private attorney and also run his non-profit, Keep Hope Alive Nigeria.

Christopher Siuzdak

While studying at HDS, Christopher’s favorite class was “Trends in World Christianity, 1900-2050,” which explored shifts in Christian confessions around the globe from a historical and social scientific perspective.

Harvard Extension School

Meet more Extension School graduates

Tomas Hernandez

Extension School graduate Tomas was able to complete his Master of Liberal Arts in Finance degree while working a full-time job, being a dad to three children, and pursuing his love of karate.

Vivien Kocsis

For her Master of Liberal Arts in Data Science capstone project, Vivien had a very specific sponsor in mind: NASA.

Brian Mazmanian

Of his journey at Harvard Extension School, Brian said, “I can honestly say that I’ve loved every minute of it.”

Harvard Graduate School of Design

Meet more graduates

For the first time, I truly felt like I was doing work that was very in touch with what GSD wants people to do, which is working with communities.” Priyanka Pillai Master in Design Engineering A joint Graduate School of Design and John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences program Learn more about Priyanka’s work

Harvard Graduate School of Education

Meet more School of Education graduates

Kavya Krishna

Kavya was recently named among Forbes’ “30 Under 30” for her dedication to empowering girls with the digital literacy skills necessary to excel in a technology-driven society.

Alria and Vyankatesh Kharage

Alria and Vyankatesh met as undergraduates, fell in love, and began building a life together when their shared passion for education brought them to Harvard.

Moriah has turned her own struggles with sobriety and recovery into an opportunity to help others seeking higher education opportunities.

Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences

Meet more SEAS graduates

Ben Schroeder

During his internship at SpaceX, Ben talked to experts to help him finalize his design for a robotic hand to help astronauts perform tasks remotely without the fatigue imposed by a suit glove.

Maria Emilia Mazzolenis

While pursuing a master’s degree in data science, Maria always kept her focus on the responsibility and impact that technology can have on society.

Lachlain McGranahan

Whether on the Charles River as a skipper on the Harvard Crimson sailing team or on the ocean helping to decipher sperm whale communications, Lachlain was never too far from his love for water and engineering.

Harvard Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

Meet more GSAS graduates

Thomas found a way to identify otherwise unrecorded 20th-century hurricanes, laying the foundation for a new field of historical environmental seismology.

Dylan Renaud

Dylan’s Harvard Horizons project combines research in the emerging field of nanoscale photonics—how light interacts with very small objects—with practical computing applications to create novel devices that move information via light.

Juhee Kang, who studied history and East Asian languages and civilizations, explored how psychological testing and mass data collection evolved in 20th-century Japan, where they became central across society.

Harvard Kennedy School

Meet more Kennedy School graduates

Ananya Chhaochharia

While pursuing a Master in Public Policy, Ananya learned how to turn a political campaign into an art form.

Adebayo Alonge

After founding a platform that provides safe pharmaceuticals in Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda, Adebayo decided to pursue a mid-career master’s degree to help him understand how to expand to even more countries.

For her capstone research project, Maya sought to understand and find solutions for the inequality in Boston’s core city services, which aren’t equitably distributed across its diverse neighborhoods and communities.

Harvard Law School

Meet more Harvard Law graduates

Nicholas Gonzalez

Nicholas was instantly smitten with the law when he took part in mock trial and moot court competitions in high school. The performative part of arguing a case felt both familiar and alluring.  

Phoebe Kotlikoff

After becoming one of the first female U.S. Navy submariners, Phoebe was inspired by the integration of submarine service and the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” to attend law school.

Harvard Medical School

Meet more HMS graduates

I often tell students two things: ‘You can do it,’ and ‘but not alone.’” David Velasquez Doctor of Medicine Learn what inspired David to earn a third Harvard degree

Deborah Plana

Personal experience with cancer in her family cemented Deborah’s determination to pursue a career that combines her passions for analysis and improving patient care.

Mitchell Winkie

There are only a handful of residency positions in dermatology for the U.S. military each year. There was only one spot in the Navy open to graduating medical students, and Mitchell was selected to fill it.

It was an online search for “science internships, Boston” that set Irene on a 10-year path to Harvard where she would ultimately complete a Ph.D. in biological and biomedical sciences.

Harvard School of Dental Medicine

Meet more School of Dental Medicine graduates

Sheridan Danquah

Growing up, Sheridan didn’t encounter a dentist until after moving from Ghana to the U.S. when he was 10. The experience made a profound impression on him and influenced him to enter the field.

Explore how Sheridan found his purpose

Jessica Latimer

Jessica turned a passion for doodling into a side job creating scientific illustrations that have landed in well-known medical and dental journals across the country.

Read about Jessica’s unique skill set

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Meet more Harvard Chan School graduates

I heard of people who had given birth during their incarceration, and I was really shocked.” Bethany Kotlar, who studied the impact of maternal incarceration during pregnancy and after birth on child development Learn more about Bethany’s research

Irfan Chaudhuri

Watching his grandmother battle Alzheimer’s disease inspired Irfan to explore the role public health could play in Alzheimer’s prevention.

After navigating the roadblocks involved in gender-affirming care, Ivan founded the startup Trans Health HQ to decrease barriers for clinicians and patients.

James Frater

As a child with asthma, James saw the dangers that come from inadequate health care. That’s why he decided to gain the skills to understand health systems and improve health equity across the globe.

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A Record Four Political Science Students on the Husky 100 for 2024!

Each year, the Husky 100 recognizes 100 UW undergraduate and graduate students from Bothell, Seattle and Tacoma in all areas of study who are making the most of their time at the UW. From a pool of more than 50,000 students from all three campuses, three Political Science majors from the Seattle campus were selected for the 2024 Husky 100 .

The Husky 100 know that education happens inside and outside of the classroom, and they are making a difference on campus, in their communities and for the future. Through their passion, leadership and commitment, these students inspire all of us to shape our own Husky Experience.

Learn more about the three students chosen for the Husky 100

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Two international students honored with the 2024 Penn Global Student Citizenship Award

Aishwarya pawar, a ph.d. student at the perelman school of medicine, is the graduate student winner, and david kato, a fourth-year political science major in the school of arts & sciences, is the undergraduate winner..

University of Pennsylvania international students Aishwarya Pawar and David Kato have been named as the winners of the 2024 Penn Global Student Citizenship Award , which honors international students who have exemplified a spirit of global citizenship during their time at Penn.

Pawar, a Ph.D. student in cell and molecular biology at the Perelman School of Medicine who came to Penn from Pune, India, is the graduate student winner; Kato, a fourth-year political science major in the School of Arts & Sciences from Kigali, Rwanda, was named the undergraduate winner.

The awards were handed out as part of Penn Global ’s International Student and Scholar Services graduation reception, held at Perry World House for the more than 2,100 international students. The reception celebrated the accomplishments of graduating international students during their time at Penn.

“Penn would not be what it is today—a vibrant, intellectual hub for innovation and impact—without international students,” says Associate Vice Provost for Global Initiatives Amy Gadsden . “The richness of their experiences and unending drive to transform our campus and the world continuously elevate the University to new heights. The Penn Global Student Citizenship Award and reception are our way of celebrating international students’ contributions, large and small, but no less influential, to life at Penn.”

The award reflects Penn Global’s commitment to honor international students who, during their time on campus, prioritized the office’s global mission to “bring the world to Penn and Penn to the world.”

This marks the ninth year Penn Global has presented the award. “We are incredibly proud of this tradition and what it represents: a celebration of Penn’s international students as indispensable, impactful members of the University,” says Rudie Altamirano , executive director of International Student and Scholar Services. 

Pawar and Kato each received a trophy, and their names will also be displayed on a plaque in the ISSS office.

Altamirano says Pawar’s “unwavering dedication to her role as the graduate chair of the International Student Advisory Board (ISSS) is evident in her consistent efforts to uplift and advocate for the welfare of international students. Aishwarya’s compassion and big heart make her a role model among her peers.”

Gadsden notes the “incredible impact” Kato has made on Penn’s campus during his four years. “As an active international student leader and World House Student Fellow, among other things, David used his perspective and experience to raise important issues facing the entire undergraduate international community. He has consistently been a welcome and thoughtful presence in meetings and discussions.”

Penn Global and ISSS also gave two honorable mentions to graduates and undergraduates. The graduate honorable mention awardees were Gaurav Mangal , an electrical engineering master’s student in the School of Engineering and Applied Science , and Sparsh Maheshwari , a master’s student in nonprofit leadership with a dual degree in social policy and data analytics in the School of Social Policy & Practice .

The undergraduate honorable mention awardees were Leah Tesfa , a mechanical engineering fourth-year student in Penn Engineering from Harare, Zimbabwe, and Carolina Yuka Nakada , a mechanical engineering and computer science major and a robotics master’s student in Penn Engineering from São Paulo, Brazil. Tesfa is also a robotics master’s student and the Penn World Scholar of the Year.

To Penn’s Class of 2024: ‘The world needs you’

Class of 2025 relishes time together at Hey Day

An iconic tradition at Penn, third-year students were promoted to senior status.

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Hundreds of undergraduates take classes in the fine arts each semester, among them painting and drawing, ceramics and sculpture, printmaking and animation, photography and videography. The courses, through the School of Arts & Sciences and the Stuart Weitzman School of Design, give students the opportunity to immerse themselves in an art form in a collaborative way.

Penn celebrates operation and benefits of largest solar power project in Pennsylvania

Solar production has begun at the Great Cove I and II facilities in central Pennsylvania, the equivalent of powering 70% of the electricity demand from Penn’s academic campus and health system in the Philadelphia area.

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Investing in future teachers and educational leaders

The Empowerment Through Education Scholarship Program at Penn’s Graduate School of Education is helping to prepare and retain teachers and educational leaders.