CDD-Ghana & IDS, UCC Organise Round-Table Discussion on Scientific Engagement

The Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) in collaboration with the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), University of Cape Coast, has organised a roundtable discussion on the study on the link between group level political inequality and ethnic conflict in fragile states.

The primary objective of the study, according to CDD, is to improve governance by reducing exclusion and discrimination of the ethnic groups and mitigate the diverse consequences of such policies.

Hosted by IDS, the scientific engagement was on the theme "Ethnic Power Relations and Conflict in Fragile States."

Presenting a study conducted by the CDD-Ghana, the Deputy Head of Research and Programme, CDD-Ghana, Dr. Franklin Oduro, explained that states were failing as a result of abuse of authority, comprehensive basic services and legitimacy.

Touching on authority failures, Dr. Oduro said fragile states lacked the authority to protect its citizens from violence.

On service failures,he noted that state fails to ensure that citizens have access to basic services, pointing out health services, basic education, water and sanitation, among others.

As regards legitimacy failures, Dr. Oduro indicated that the state "enjoys limited support, it is undemocratic, acquisition of power by force and suppression of the opposition."

He noted that access to state power focuses on ethnic groups controlling power alone, ethnic groups sharing power with others, ethnic group excluded from executive state power, ethnically unbalanced government structure, discrimination, among others.

Dr. Oduro indicated that the scientific engagement was aimed at bringing the research work close to the academia.

In his welcome address, the Director of the Institute for Development Studies, Prof. P.K Agbesinyale, indicated that the theme for the programme was timely especially at a time when  the country was preparing for elections.

He stated that the forum would afford members the opportunity to improve on the data set.

The forum which is the third of its kind brought together academia and students.