DISPUTED PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS AND POLITICAL STABILITY IN AFRICA: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF GHANA’S 2012 AND KENYA’S 2007 ELECTIONS

ABSTRACT The current challenge to the democratization process of emerging democracies is disputed presidential elections. A number of disputed presidential elections have been experienced in many African countries lately. Disputed presidential elections have led to political instability in many African countries. Owing to electoral violence which arose out of disputed presidential elections, Zimbabwe recorded 86 death in its elections in 2008, 247 deaths in
Cote d‘Ivoire 2010 and 1300 deaths in Kenya 2007. On the other hand, institutional resolution of disputed presidential elections has led to an amicable settlement of electoral dispute in some African countries. The study contrasts between a situation where disputed
presidential elections led to political instability, Kenya 2007, and the other where the political stability was maintained, Ghana 2012, in order to explain how the political stability of a country could be maintained during and after a disputed presidential election. The study employed the purposive non-probability sampling method due to its qualitative nature. Primary data was collected through personal interviews, and secondary data were retrieved from journal articles, newspapers and reports. The findings of the study postulated that disputing elections in court is more likely to maintain the political stability of the country than protesting on the street. Institutional resolution of disputed elections offers a peaceful
alternative to violent post-election response. Political parties help to maintain the political stability of the country by challenging elections in court, and also by respecting the verdict of the court. An ineffective and inefficient management and resolution of disputed presidential elections can roll back the progress of the democratic process of Ghana and Kenya. Political institutions such as the Electoral Commission, Judiciary and Political Parties need to be strengthened to ensure the prevention, management and resolution of disputed presidential elections. Strong political institutions help maintain the political stability of the country when elections are disputed.