The Institute of Economic Affairs, Ghana
Encyclopedia
The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), Ghana, is a public policy
think tank
based in Accra
, Ghana
. It was founded by a Ghanaian economist
, Dr. Charles Mensa in 1989 at a time when the country was governed by a military regime (Ghana
was governed by the Provisional National Defence Council
). The IEA was set up as an independent, non-government institution dedicated to the establishment and strengthening of a market economy
and a democratic, fee and open society. The IEA supports research and promotes and publishes studies on economic, socio-political and legal issues in order to enhance understanding of public policy.
The current Executive Director of the IEA is Mrs. Jean Mensa.
and a free and fair market economy
. The IEA believes that the creation of an environment in which economic, social, political and legal institutions function openly and freely is the key to the attainment of sustainable economic growth
and human development
. It seeks to do this by:
• providing a forum/platform for the exchange of ideas
• promoting research and publication of economic, socio-political and legal issues in order to enhance the understanding of public policy
• strengthening local capacity in Ghana by providing training to institutions of democracy such as Parliament, the Judiciary, the Media and civil society
• demonstrating the power of both profit and non-profit private institutions
• promoting the use of economic reasoning and understand the world of scarcity, choice and trade off’s
• monitoring and providing an in depth analysis on the progress of democratic consolidation in Ghana and in Sub-Saharan Africa
.
in the areas of economics and governance, commissioned research, the production of a refereed policy journal called the Ghana Policy Journal and review of research and policy-related papers for external organizations.
In addition to its research agenda, the IEA also undertakes direct work to promote sustainable democracy in Ghana
. For the Ghanaian presidential election, 1996
, the IEA established a coalition of Civil Society Organisations (NADEO) to monitor the election. The IEA has played a role in monitoring every major election
since then.
The IEA has also assisted the Parliament of Ghana
in carrying out its functions, training legislative research assistants in 1996 to work in Parliament
. In the year 2000, the IEA also organised the first ever Presidential debate in Ghana
with the debates being held every election year since. In 2008, Vice-Presidential debates were included for the first time.
In 2004, the IEA also facilitated the formation of a Political Parties Code of Conduct and the setting up of a National Enforcement Body to regulate the code. Eight political parties ultimately signed the code.
The IEA has also played a role in developing and encouraging the enactment of legislation
. In 2003, the Ghanaian Cabinet approved two bills originating from the IEA. These were the Whistle Blowers Bill and the Right to Information Bill. The Whistle Blowers Bill was passed into law in 2008 by Parliament.
Through the IEA’s Ghana
Political Parties Programme the IEA has also brought the major political parties together to consider other IEA drafted legislation. These have included the Public Funding of Political Parties Bill, the Political Parties Bill and more recently the Presidential Transition Bill. The IEA’s role in facilitating bipartisan cooperation on these Bills was recognised in the inaugural State of the Nation Address by President John Atta Mills on February 19, 2009. The President stated that:
• Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy
(NIMD)
• The United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP)
• The Canadian International Development Agency
(CIDA)
• The Danish Government, through The Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA)
• The Royal Netherlands Embassy
• The Centre for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) and
• The National Endowment for Democracy
Public policy
Public policy as government action is generally the principled guide to action taken by the administrative or executive branches of the state with regard to a class of issues in a manner consistent with law and institutional customs. In general, the foundation is the pertinent national and...
think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
based in Accra
Accra
Accra is the capital and largest city of Ghana, with an urban population of 1,658,937 according to the 2000 census. Accra is also the capital of the Greater Accra Region and of the Accra Metropolitan District, with which it is coterminous...
, Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
. It was founded by a Ghanaian economist
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
, Dr. Charles Mensa in 1989 at a time when the country was governed by a military regime (Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
was governed by the Provisional National Defence Council
Provisional National Defence Council
The Provisional National Defence Council was the name of the Ghanaian government after the People's National Party's elected government was overthrown by Jerry Rawlings, the former head of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council. This was on December 31, 1981. It remained in power until January 7,...
). The IEA was set up as an independent, non-government institution dedicated to the establishment and strengthening of a market economy
Market economy
A market economy is an economy in which the prices of goods and services are determined in a free price system. This is often contrasted with a state-directed or planned economy. Market economies can range from hypothetically pure laissez-faire variants to an assortment of real-world mixed...
and a democratic, fee and open society. The IEA supports research and promotes and publishes studies on economic, socio-political and legal issues in order to enhance understanding of public policy.
The current Executive Director of the IEA is Mrs. Jean Mensa.
Objectives of the IEA
The objective of the IEA is to promote good governance, democracyDemocracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
and a free and fair market economy
Market economy
A market economy is an economy in which the prices of goods and services are determined in a free price system. This is often contrasted with a state-directed or planned economy. Market economies can range from hypothetically pure laissez-faire variants to an assortment of real-world mixed...
. The IEA believes that the creation of an environment in which economic, social, political and legal institutions function openly and freely is the key to the attainment of sustainable economic growth
Economic growth
In economics, economic growth is defined as the increasing capacity of the economy to satisfy the wants of goods and services of the members of society. Economic growth is enabled by increases in productivity, which lowers the inputs for a given amount of output. Lowered costs increase demand...
and human development
Human development (humanity)
Human development in the scope of humanity, specifically international development, is an international and economic development paradigm that is about much more than the rise or fall of national incomes. People are the real wealth of nations...
. It seeks to do this by:
• providing a forum/platform for the exchange of ideas
• promoting research and publication of economic, socio-political and legal issues in order to enhance the understanding of public policy
• strengthening local capacity in Ghana by providing training to institutions of democracy such as Parliament, the Judiciary, the Media and civil society
• demonstrating the power of both profit and non-profit private institutions
• promoting the use of economic reasoning and understand the world of scarcity, choice and trade off’s
• monitoring and providing an in depth analysis on the progress of democratic consolidation in Ghana and in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa as a geographical term refers to the area of the African continent which lies south of the Sahara. A political definition of Sub-Saharan Africa, instead, covers all African countries which are fully or partially located south of the Sahara...
.
Work of the IEA
Research work at the IEA is undertaken through its two centres: The Economics Centre and The Governance Centre. This work includes in-house researchResearch
Research can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
in the areas of economics and governance, commissioned research, the production of a refereed policy journal called the Ghana Policy Journal and review of research and policy-related papers for external organizations.
In addition to its research agenda, the IEA also undertakes direct work to promote sustainable democracy in Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
. For the Ghanaian presidential election, 1996
Ghanaian presidential election, 1996
The Ghanaian presidential elections were held on 7 December 1996. Parliamentary elections were held on the same day. The result was a victory for the incumbent, Jerry Rawlings of the National Democratic Congress. Voter turnout was 78.3%.-Results:...
, the IEA established a coalition of Civil Society Organisations (NADEO) to monitor the election. The IEA has played a role in monitoring every major election
Election
An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy operates since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the...
since then.
The IEA has also assisted the Parliament of Ghana
Parliament of Ghana
The Parliament of Ghana is the legislative body of the Ghanaian government.-History:Legislative representation in Ghana dates back to 1850, when the country was a British colony. The body, called the Legislative Council, was purely advisory as the Governor exercised all legislative and executive...
in carrying out its functions, training legislative research assistants in 1996 to work in Parliament
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
. In the year 2000, the IEA also organised the first ever Presidential debate in Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
with the debates being held every election year since. In 2008, Vice-Presidential debates were included for the first time.
In 2004, the IEA also facilitated the formation of a Political Parties Code of Conduct and the setting up of a National Enforcement Body to regulate the code. Eight political parties ultimately signed the code.
The IEA has also played a role in developing and encouraging the enactment of legislation
Legislation
Legislation is law which has been promulgated by a legislature or other governing body, or the process of making it...
. In 2003, the Ghanaian Cabinet approved two bills originating from the IEA. These were the Whistle Blowers Bill and the Right to Information Bill. The Whistle Blowers Bill was passed into law in 2008 by Parliament.
Through the IEA’s Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
Political Parties Programme the IEA has also brought the major political parties together to consider other IEA drafted legislation. These have included the Public Funding of Political Parties Bill, the Political Parties Bill and more recently the Presidential Transition Bill. The IEA’s role in facilitating bipartisan cooperation on these Bills was recognised in the inaugural State of the Nation Address by President John Atta Mills on February 19, 2009. The President stated that:
"Madam Speaker,
Several areas of our governance agenda require legislative intervention. Fortunately, The IEA-sponsored 'Ghana Political Parties Programme' which is made up of all the political parties with representation in Parliament has agreed on several draft Bills that will respond to this need. Consequently, the Government will consider these draft Bills for possible Parliamentary enactment in order to fill the void. The Bills are:
- Public Financing of Political Parties Bill, including the creation of an Election Fund for political parties and guaranteed funding for the Electoral Commission;
- A new Political Parties Bill; and
- A Presidential Transition Bill."
Funding
The IEA has collaborated with several foundations and development agencies, including:• Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy
Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy
The Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy is a democracy assistance organisation of political parties in the Netherlands for political parties in young democracies...
(NIMD)
• The United Nations Development Programme
United Nations Development Programme
The United Nations Development Programme is the United Nations' global development network. It advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP operates in 177 countries, working with nations on their own solutions to...
(UNDP)
• The Canadian International Development Agency
Canadian International Development Agency
The Canadian International Development Agency was formed in 1968 by the Canadian government. CIDA administers foreign aid programs in developing countries, and operates in partnership with other Canadian organizations in the public and private sectors as well as other international organizations...
(CIDA)
• The Danish Government, through The Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA)
• The Royal Netherlands Embassy
• The Centre for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) and
• The National Endowment for Democracy