CALL FOR CHAPTER ABSTRACTS FOR TWO VOLUMES: APRIL 2026
1. Ghana at 70 and Beyond: Power, Authority, Freedom and Justice Editors: Joseph R.A. Ayee, Isaac Owusu-Mensah and Lloyd G.A. Amoah
2. Ghana at 70 and Beyond: Policy, Practice and Priorities Editors: Joseph R.A. Ayee, Isaac Owusu-Mensah and Lloyd G.A. Amoah
The Department of Political Science as a contribution to scholarship and the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of Ghana’s independence on 6 March 2027 is pleased to issue the call for chapter abstracts for the above-mentioned two volumes. The well-respected Routledge is the prospective publisher, and the Editors are in discussions with the subject area Commissioning Editor
Submission of Abstracts
Abstracts should be 250 words in Times New Roman Font size 12 (double spacing). They should include a statement of the problem, research question(s), methodology, contribution to literature and a clear outline. They should be sent to the editors at the following email addresses: jraayee@gmail.com; iomensah@ug.edu.gh; ALloydGeorgeAdu@ug.edu.gh The abstract may either cover a topic(s) in any of the suggested volumes/themes below or the contributor’s own generated topic. Contributors should indicate the volume from which their submission is coming or aligned. The deadline for the receipt of the abstracts is 30 April 2026. Please note that the abstracts will be peer reviewed.
A Brief on the Two Volumes
Ghana will celebrate its seven decades of independence on 6 March 2027. During the postindependence period, the country has come to be seen by many scholars as a trailblazer in the experimentation of political and socio-economic models, paradigms and phenomena and a beacon of democracy, despite the stark reality that the country is still not out of the woods – bedevilled by a litany of risks, challenges and problems. Amid these challenges of instability, dependency, ineffective transformation and national ownership, there are some achievements in the political, economic and social spheres which are worth celebrating.
The Fourth Republic further provides a key defining moment in Ghana’s developmental journey and context. Scholarship has also been devoted to discussing the issues, achievements, risks and opportunities in the colonial and post-colonial periods of Ghana, which have proved enduring and enriching. Notwithstanding this, there are still lacunae in the scholarship that can be addressed to present a more comprehensive, updated, and exciting story of 70 years of the attainment of independence by the country. Against this backdrop, the two volumes seek to address four things:
(i) To beef up or update the literature in areas already covered or examine new and emerging issues, trends and phenomena which the literature has not featured to bring innovation and comparison.
(ii) To recommend strategies, including pathways to making Ghana work beyond 70, based on the findings.
(iii) To highlight the lessons and implications for the theoretical, comparative, empirical and policy literature.
(iv) To serve as a commemorative publication to mark the seven decades of Ghana’s independence.
The questions to be addressed are:
(i) What are the lacunae in the existing burgeoning literature on Ghana?
(ii) What is the current state of Ghana after 70 years of the attainment of independence and what factors have contributed to it? (iii) How can the country become robust and resilient beyond 70 years?
The volumes contribute not only to the existing literature but also bring new perspectives and nuances for a better understanding of Ghana’s 70-year trajectory as an independent country. Additionally, the ability of the chapters to look beyond the 70 years is equally interesting because of the link between the past, present and future while at the same time providing a basis for prescription of strategies and recommendations for future directions to navigate the risks and challenges and leverage the achievements and opportunities.
1. Ghana at 70 and Beyond: Power, Authority, Freedom and Justice Editors: Joseph R.A. Ayee, Isaac Owusu-Mensah and Lloyd G.A. Amoah Suggested Areas and Themes
1.1 Political Theory Power, authority, freedom, justice, democracy, democratic consolidation, liberty, rights, equality, ideology, manifesto, constitutionalism, separation of powers, citizenship, political violence, PanAfricanism, populism, revolution, politicization, partisanship, directive principles of state policy
1.2 Development Studies Development paradigms such sustainable development goals (SDGs) and the Africa We Want, social protection programmes and institutions, poverty reduction, social security, economic transformation, foreign aid, role of Bretton Woods institutions, UNICEF, UNESCO, etc., environment, climate change, women and development.
1.3 Comparative Politics Comparing issues and trends at the intra and inter-sectoral levels and across jurisdictions: regime types, performance, civil society, NGOs, political elite, political parties, elections, funding, corruption, democratic performance, transitional justice, truth commissions and national reconciliation commissions, ethnicity, societal cleavages, elite settlement and convergence, etc.
1.4 International Politics International order, conflict, hard and soft power, geopolitics, foreign policy, diplomacy, globalisation, transnational instruments (treaties, protocols and conventions) and regional and sub-regional frameworks of AU and ECOWAS (agreements, conventions, strategies), global, regional and sub-regional bodies, regional integration and cooperation.
2. Ghana at 70 and Beyond: Policy, Practice and Priorities
Editors: Joseph R.A. Ayee, Isaac Owusu-Mensah and Lloyd G.A. Amoah Suggested Areas and Themes
2.1 Public Policy and Administration Executive, parliament, judiciary, public services, civil service, state-owned enterprises, regulatory bodies such as State Interest and Governance Authority (SIGA) and Public Utilities Regulatory Commission, path dependency, public sector reforms such as pay and local governance, selected policies including agriculture, health, education, energy, security, water and sanitation, natural resources governance, artisanal mining including galamsey, industrial action, human resources management, ICT including artificial intelligence (AI)
2.2 Culture and Society Values, norms, attitudes, beliefs, rituals, obligations, duties, behaviour, language, religion, music, dance, architecture, traditions and customs, media.
Prof. J.R.A. Ayee
Prof. Isaac Owusu-Mensah
Prof. Lloyd G. Adu Amoah
DATE ISSUED: 30 March 2026