GOVERNMENT

• GOVERNMENT
• Secondary Education

GOVERNMENT

POLITICAL PARTIES

POLITICAL PARTIES

INTRODUCTION

A party is a social gathering where people come together for several reasons which includes entertainment, deliberate on issues, celebrate and socialise.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of the lesson, the student will be able to;

• Explain the term ‘Political Parties’
• Give examples of political parties in Ghana
• Mention the types of Political Parties

• Mention at least four (4) reasons why political parties are formed

• State any four (4) criticisms or problems against political parties

What do you about political parties?

What are some of the activities of the political parties in your country?

What is the main function of political parties in Ghana?

1. Building infrastructure projects
2. Providing healthcare services
3. Running government operations
4. Mobilizing voters and shaping public policy

How do political parties in Ghana represent the interests of the people?

1. By enforcing strict laws and regulations
2. By advocating for policies that benefit their supporters
3. By promoting international trade agreements
4. By organizing cultural festivals

What is a common practice during election campaigns for political parties in Ghana?

1. Promoting isolationist policies
2. Launching military operations
3. Engaging in public debates and rallies
4. Boycotting the election process

Political party is an organized group of people or bodies with a common purpose of seeking to capture political power through an election in order to run the affairs of a state.

What are the types of political parties?

TYPES OF POLITICAL PARTIES

• Elite Political Party
• Mass Political Party
• Charismatic Parties

• Religious Parties
• Ideological Parties
• Broker Parties

EXAMPLES OF POLITICAL PARTIES IN GHANA

S/N	POLITICAL PARTY	YEAR IN POWER
1	Convention People's Party (CPP)	1957
2	Progress Party (PP)	1969, 1972
3	People’s National Party (PNP)	1979
4	National Democratic Party (NDC)	1992, 1996, 2008, 2012
5	New Patriotic Party (N.P.P)	2000, 2004, 2016, 2020

Do you think that political parties are important?

REASONS WHY POLITICAL PARTIES ARE FORMED

•    They serve as a pool for recruiting or selecting prospective political leaders
•    Political parties ensure accountability

•    Political parties serve as a link between the government and the governed or people.

• They provide an alternative government.

•    They educate the electorates
•    Political Parties also promotes national

DISCUSSION

DISCUSS ANY FOUR (4) IMPORTANCE OF POLITICAL PARTIES TO YOUR COLLEAGUES

What are political parties?

1. Businesses seeking to expand their market share.
2. Social clubs organizing events for the community.
3. Organizations that represent people's interests and contest elections.
4. Religious institutions promoting spirituality.

Which political party is currently in power in Ghana?

1. Democratic People's Party (DPP)
2. New Patriotic Party (NPP)
3. Progressive Freedom Party (PFP)
4. Liberty Party (LP)

Why are political parties important for a country?

1. They provide a platform for citizens to participate in governance.
2. They create divisions within the society.
3. They limit freedom of expression.
4. They encourage dictatorship and authoritarian rule.

Which political party was the first to win democratic elections in Ghana?

1. United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC)
2. Convention People's Party (CPP)
3. People's National Convention (PNC)
4. National Democratic Congress (NDC)

What role do political parties play in shaping public policies?

1. They advocate for policies that align with their ideology and the needs of their supporters.
2. They have no influence on policy-making.
3. They solely focus on winning elections.
4. They always support the government's policies.

Political parties play a crucial role in the democratic process of Ghana.

Yes, they provide choices for citizens.

No, they are too focused on power.

Yes, they promote political participation.

No, they are often corrupt and ineffective.

The importance of political parties in Ghana can be seen in their contribution to policy formulation and implementation.

Yes, they represent diverse interests.

No, they prioritize their own agendas.

Yes, they offer platforms for public debate.

No, they struggle to enact meaningful change.

Political parties in Ghana face significant challenges such as financial constraints and internal divisions.

Yes, these challenges hinder effective governance.

No, they find ways to overcome challenges.

Yes, they struggle to attract competent leaders.

No, these challenges are exaggerated.

By: B.A.K. AKORLOR