Ghana in the Community of Nations

Welcome to section 6 of the learner material for Year Two. This section gives you general information on foreign policy making. You will study the meaning and characteristics of foreign policy. Specifically, you will look at the determinants of foreign policy and the key actors and institutions responsible for conducting Ghana’s foreign policy.

Furthermore, you will be introduced to the concept of diplomacy and the various types.

The themes in this section will provide you with a context in which you are introduced to actors, both state and non-state, who dictate the foreign policy of states.

Key Ideas

• Diplomacy is the art of building relationships for mutual benefit and finding solutions to issues without using violence.

• Ghana’s foreign policy is important in promoting peace, stability, and economic development in the West African sub-region and beyond.

• Those involved in Ghana’s foreign policy decisions are the President, Parliament, Cabinet, Council of State, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Foreign policy simply refers to how a state relates to the outside world. In other words, foreign policy is the decisions and actions officials (government) of the state take concerning other institutions to pursue their national values or interests. The driving force behind a country’s foreign policy in international relations is National Interest.

Characteristics of Foreign Policy

₁. Foreign policies are subsets of public policy. They are decisions made by the government that have an impact on the citizens.

2. Foreign policy may be aggressive or friendly. ’Aggressive’ implies having unfriendly relations with other countries which can sometimes take the form of imposing economic sanctions or in extreme cases military interventions. The friendly approach looks at having cordial and peaceful relations usually diplomatic engagement and economic cooperation.

3. The foreign policy decisions of countries are largely influenced by the attributes/ quality of the political leadership. The leader’s ideology and personal behaviour do influence the kind of decisions they make towards other countries.

4. Foreign policy originates from the central government. National governments are responsible for designing and conducting foreign decisions. Thus, actors and institutions with legitimate authority are responsible for developing policy decisions, including the executive and legislative branches of government.

Determinants of Foreign Policy (Ghana)

Determinants of foreign policy refer to the various factors that influence and shape a country’s interactions with other nations, international organisations, and individuals.

These factors can be both domestic and external.

The state of the economy A country’s economic situation significantly influences its ability to conduct foreign policy. Those with strong economies can pursue their interests more effectively, while those facing economic challenges must navigate more carefully. Ghana’s economic resources in the 1950s, for instance, enabled it to support African countries fighting for independence.

Membership in international organisations A country’s membership of international organisations and signatory treaties influence its foreign policy. It requires the country to fulfil these commitments and treaties. The 1992 constitution of Ghana enjoins the country to honour treaties and obligations through peaceful means.

Geopolitical location A country’s location and population significantly influence its foreign policy. Ghana’s location means that it has to make policy taking account of West Africa and the continent as a whole. Another example is that landlocked countries, i.e., countries without access to the sea usually pursue friendly foreign policies that don’t threaten their ability to export goods that would have to pass through these countries. Having potentially aggressive neighbours might also shape foreign policy.

Population A country’s population plays an important role in shaping its foreign policy. It is not just about the large population size, but the quality of the population that matters. For

example, educational qualifications, experience, and competencies are important in determining a country’s foreign policy, mainly because an educated and well-informed population is more likely to try to influence foreign policy, e.g., anti-war protests.

Public opinion The views and sentiments of citizens influence the decisions the government make towards other states and organisations in the international system. This usually happens in democratic states where there is freedom of expression.

Activity 6.1 Foreign Policy

1. Write 3 sentences on the role of actors in the international system, drawing from the discussions and activities in Year One. You may discuss your findings with a friend.

Learners, please, follow the link and watch/listen to an audio description video of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s speech at the All-African Peoples Conference in 1958 on continental unification. https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=8KKxpuxpVfc In discussion with a friend, agree on what the key ideas were in Dr.

Nkrumah’s speech. To what extent have these ideas come to fruition in the subsequent 60+ years?

Now, continue with point 2 of this activity.

2. Using the table below, what is your understanding of foreign policy? What are examples of foreign policy? Why does Ghana engage in relations with other countries? Share your findings with a friend.

Activity Response

What is meant by foreign policy?

What are examples of foreign policy?

Why does Ghana engage in relations with other countries?

3. Review the report “Letter from Africa: Behind Ghana and Nigeria’s love- hate affair.” Next, explore the reasons why Nigeria took this decision and the subsequent effects. Share the findings with three of your classmates and together, design a poster that ranks these effects from most important to least important and explain your reasons for the ranking. More details of the news story can be found at https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-54088878

The actors in the international system dictate the foreign policy of states. They set goals that seek to address the current challenges and the well-being of future generations. In Ghana, the key actors involved in foreign policy decisions are:

The President

• Mandated to execute treaties and agreements in the name of the state (Article 75)

• Appoints the Minister (s) for Foreign Affairs and Diplomats (Article 74:1)

• Receives Envoys accredited to Ghana (Article 74:2)

• Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces (Article 57:1) Parliament

• Ratification of all treaties and agreements or conventions (75:2)

• Approval of Ministers of State (including Minister for Foreign Affairs) (Article 78:1)

• Control of the public/government purse

• Parliamentary committee to investigate into activities of ministries and departments (103:1-2).

Cabinet

• Assists the President in all policies, including foreign policies (Article 76) Council of State

• Consultation on the appointment of ministers and diplomats/ambassadors (Article 74) Ministry of Foreign Affairs

• Advises the government on the formulation and implementation of Ghana’s foreign policies.

• Promotes economic cooperation between Ghana and other states and intergovernmental organisations.

• Provides efficient consular services within and outside Ghana.

Activity 6.2 Actors in Ghana’s Foreign Policy

1. Research and write a paragraph summary of a modern-day (last ten years) effort by a Ghanaian President acting in their role as Chief Diplomat and share with a peer. See the media section of the Permanent Mission of Ghana to the United Nations for more information https://www.ghanamissionun.

org/ga-gallery/

2. Based on research carried out in point 1 of this activity, in a group of not more than 4, identify other individuals and institutions and discuss their functions concerning Ghana’s foreign policy decisions using the chart below.

Present your work to the whole class for further discussion. See the 1992 constitution for more information.

Diplomacy refers to using intelligence and negotiation to build and maintain relationships between countries and other global actors. It’s about finding mutually beneficial solutions through agreements, rather than resorting to war or force. It is a peaceful problem-solving approach that prioritises cooperation over conflict. Diplomacy is widely regarded as the most effective and acceptable way to implement foreign policy.

Types of Diplomacy

₁. Bilateral diplomacy refers to the official relations between two independent countries, focusing on dialogue, negotiation, and other peaceful means to influence decisions and behaviour. For example, Ghana established cordial relations with Nigeria, Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom.

2. Multilateral diplomacy: refers to official interactions among three or more states, international organisations, or other actors to achieve common goals, resolve conflicts and promote good international relationships among states.

3. Public diplomacy: refers to people to people-to-people relations rather than state- to-state relations. In simple terms refers to the use of goodwill ambassadors instead of politicians and government officials to communicate directly to people of other states. For example, the use of influential personalities (celebrities) to address a problem or using sports (football) success to address conflict and raise a state’s profile

4. Shuttle diplomacy refers to a diplomatic strategy where a negotiator travels frequently between two or more parties to reach agreements. It concerns the use of neutral third-party actors to settle disputes between conflicting parties or states where direct engagement to settle the dispute is highly unlikely. Examples are

5. Gunboat diplomacy refers to the use of military force as a threat to achieve foreign policy objectives, often by intimidating other states.

Diplomats are very important to the survival of any successful international relationship of a country. Their activities can affect the country positively or negatively in the following ways.

Representation

a. Maintaining good relations with host country officials, businesses, civil society organisations and individuals.

b. Promoting the national culture, trade, and tourism potential of the mother country

c. Hosting events, receptions, and ceremonies to attract investments Negotiation and Bargaining

a. Engaging in diplomatic negotiations to resolve conflicts, settle disputes or secure and signing of agreements and treaties.

b. Conducting bilateral and multilateral talks on trade, investment, security, environment and other issues.

Reporting Role

a. Gathering and analysing information on the host country’s politics, economy and society.

b. Submitting regular reports to the home country on significant developments.

c. Providing insights on market trends, trade opportunities, and investment climate Information Gathering Role

a. Conducting research and analysis to inform policy decisions on issues such as trade, education, healthcare, and human rights among others.

b. Maintaining contacts with local officials, experts, and influencers Consular Duties

a. Issuing passports, visas, and travel documents

b. Offering emergency services such as evacuation, medical assistance, or legal aid

c. Facilitating trade through certifying documents and verifying export items.

Activity 6.3 Diplomacy

1. Form a pair with a classmate and discuss the meaning, types and role of diplomacy in foreign policy. Consider sharing your responses with the entire class. You may use https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdKFN1g62PM

2. Research a global issue or public debate recently or currently in the news, such as war and conflicts, energy security, or climate change, where negotiation, finding a common ground, and compromise would apply.

Write down the background information and identify the interests of various stakeholders in the shared problem. Together with a friend, write a newspaper article about the possible diplomatic resolution and present it to the entire class. Sources for current news stories should be from the following outlets: Ghana News Agency, Daily Graphic, Ghanaian Times, BBC and CNN.

3. Led by your teacher, discuss how diplomacy and negotiation can resolve Burkina Faso’s decision to close the trading border with Ghana due to migration issues. Based on the discussion, form a group of two role-play the diplomatic engagement of resolving the conflict, and participate in a whole class discussion.

Extended Reading

• Kumado, K. (1995). “Foreign Policy Making in the Context of our National Constitution:

An Overview”. In Ameyedowo & Birku, B. (eds.), Parliament and Foreign Policy Making in Ghana. Gold type publications.

• Nau, H. R. (2020). Perspectives on international relations: power, institutions, and ideas. CQ Press.