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Social media and Elections in Ghana
and Nigeria: Expanding Citizens' Participation
West Africa
Not For Sale
www.westafricainsight.org | March Edition 2014 BI MONTHLY INSIGHT
Centre for Post-Arab Spring: ECOWAS and
Democracy and the Promotion of Democratic Values
Development
in West Africa
WEST AFRICA INSIGHT
March Edition 2014
West Africa Insight:
Monitoring to Influence the Future
We are happy to be back after a three-month hiatus. This edition marks the beginning of another phase of West Africa Insight. It
is Center for Democracy and Development's main tool of undertaking trends monitoring and horizon scanning in the West Africa Insight Team
organization's choice jurisdiction, West Africa.
Idayat Hassan
One of the major strategies adopted by this title is stimulating debates and discourses on the socio-economic and political Editor in Chief
situation in Africa, but West Africa in particular. More than a century after the Berlin Conference, the colonial past continues to
haunt the region. The forceful amalgamation and compartmentalisation of peoples of different socio-economic and cultural
realities into nation- states defined by borders to which they had no consent of linger on. Moreover, the peoples' failure to Project Officers
surmount the challenges deriving from the situation continues to stifle development across the region. CDD's Senior Fellow, Dr. Terfa Hemen
Dayo Kusa's analysis explores these issues, with a focus on two West African nations, Cote d'Ivoire, and Nigeria. This helps to Liberty Oseni Audu
bring into proper focus the contexts in both the Francophone and Anglophone sections of West Africa. Though these two nations
possess enormous human and economic resources, their respective growths have been hampered by some socio- cultural
inclinations and factors in their respective political histories. At the moment, Nigeria is engulfed in crises traceable to these Supported by
factors, namely the irrepressible insurgence in the North; the multiplying crises in the Niger Delta, including continually
renewed threats from militants as well as the never ending conflicts between nomadic pastoralists and farmers in the central
region. All of these will combine with the intrigues of the coming elections. Such a situation leaves to imagination what the
future holds for black Africa's biggest nation.
While democracy has returned to Cote d'Ivoire, the challenges of a nation divided along political, ethnic lines remain. The
question of who is truly an Ivorian (Ivoirité) still plagues this once-thriving West African nation whose economy is now
struggling to meet the needs of an ever growing population. With regards to the elections scheduled for 2015, one wonders if the
colonial past and the peoples' failure to ignore their differences will not, once again, result in tragic retrogressions.
On account of the aforestated, this edition attempts some projections of what may happen if West African citizens decide to
emulate the Arab nations of Tunisia and Egypt. Considering the apparent disregard for the social contract presumed to exist All rights reserved. No part of the
between citizens and their governments, can one guess the possibility of a West African Harmattan as some parallel to the Arab West Africa Insight may be
reproduced in any form or by any
Spring? What role could social media play in the ever increasing influence of information and communication technologies?
electronic or mechanical means
Despite efforts towards instilling good democratic practice, how influential have ECOWAS and its instruments been in the including information storage and
practice of democracy in the region? Can they help curtail an Arab Spring-like revolution as governments continuously fail to retrieval systems without
honour social contract? permission in writing from the
publisher.
Also in focus in this edition is the recent claim by the famous economist, Jim O'Neil, that Nigeria is one of the MINT countries
(Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey). We therefore explore the possibility of Nigeria truly integrating into the promising © Centre for Democracy and
MINT bloc. This will be determined by a variety of variables including how the country will use the great human capital and the Development 2014
huge natural resources it possesses. Despite the challenges of poor governance, corruption, and weak infrastructures the country
faces, the possibility of becoming a world power is not beyond Africa's most populous nation, provided that the country gets her
acts together in the coming years. Although, a small oasis in the desert it may seem, the recent emergence of the duo of
Eseoghene Odiete, a Fashion designer, and Eric Obuh, a musician cum philanthropist in the Google Africa Connected
competition presents some inspiration for instance.
Development requires good democratic structures, which in turn can only be attained if nations across the region are able to
conduct credible, free, and fair elections. This is one feat that has been elusive, thereby impeding democracy in the region. A
look at the progress made in the electoral process shows the growing influence of information and technology, especially
because they open up more space for participation by the populace in the social media. The Ghanaian and Nigerian examples
illustrate well the role of social media in improving the electoral processes in each of the two countries' respective last elections.
It will not be out place therefore to explore the potentials to open further space for citizens in the upcoming 2015 elections in West
Africa.
As West Africa searches for solutions to her plethora of problems, our intention is to bring to the fore the issues, narratives, and
analyses that can contribute to her success.
Idayat Hassan
Director, CDD
2
Jibrin Ibrahim and Audu Liberty Oseni
Our country, O'Neil had
announced, would be part of
the next four developing
economies to make a
breakthrough
They are Mexico, Indonesia,
Nigeria, and Turkey (MINT)
The Nigerian Government received the good news from the famous equitable economic growth and social cohesion, and preventing the
country from reaping the potential benefits of its fast growing youth.
economist Jim O'Neil with elation. Our country, O'Neil had announced,
would be part of the next four developing economies to make a The Nigerian situation is scary and strange. According to a United
breakthrough. They are Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Turkey. The Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
MINT countries by his reckoning are likely to start catching up with the report, as of 1999, Nigeria had 6.9 million out-of-school children. The
leading economies of the world within the next decade. Nigeria has 2013 UNESCO report however shows that the number of out-of-school
always believed it should have been the country to join the BRIC children in Nigeria has risen to 10.5 million. What is even more
countries of Brazil, Russia, India and China in 2010 rather than its rival, frightening is the rapidly declining quality of the school system. Today,
South Africa. Mr O'Neil who coined the grouping BRIC has now 44% of Nigerian students who have completed primary school cannot
consoled us by placing Nigeria on the path to a MINT future. read a complete sentence. Between 2007 and 2010, the number of
Nigerian students enrolled in foreign universities rose by 71%, from
There is no doubt that the MINT countries do have the potential and
22,712 to 38,852. In 2013, 70% of students who sat for the West African
ability to reach great heights. Nigeria has a population of 170 million
Examinations Council WAEC final secondary school examination
and the country's GDP stands at 318.5 billion USD whereas the per
failed. These figures tell the story of the failure of the capacity building
capita income is estimated at $1,831. We depend more on hydrocarbon
ability of the Nigerian educational system.
exports than Indonesia and Mexico. Nigeria, at the moment, is
confronted with outstanding challenges of nationhood. The state All the countries that have succeeded in promoting rapid economic
institutions are weak and the political elite is kleptomaniac and engaged development have done so on the back of a constantly improving
in mega looting of the country's national resources. There is significant educational system. The 10.5 million out-of-school children—and
infrastructural decay due to inadequate investments. One element of unfortunately the numbers are growing rapidly— will grow into adults
infrastructure, power generation has received massive investments over that will not be able to add significant value to economic activities. They
the past decade, but there has been negligible increase in output. The will be limited to unskilled jobs with low wages if they are lucky, but
rule of law is largely compromised and the state has withdrawn from most likely they will remain part of the vast and growing army of
social provisioning. The rate of unemployment is at least 25%, while the unemployed persons. One main implication of such a situation is that
incidence of poverty is about 65% of the population. Nigeria therefore Nigeria will find it extremely difficult to compete with countries that
needs to make a huge effort to achieve the targets being expected of the have competent and well-trained human resources in the area of
MINT countries. science, technology, and efficient bureaucracy. Another fundamental
implication is that, in the future, Nigeria's workforce will suffer a
The MINT projection is that by 2050 Nigeria will be outperforming the
tremendous skills gap. More worrisome is that even as the Nigerian
United States of America. This is a very bold projection. For this target
skilled workforce is being depleted due to brain drain, the state and the
to be met, a huge effort needs to be made by the country. Education plays
society are not grooming their replacement. Another dimension to this
a fundamental role in building a nation's economy; it trains the work
crisis is the growing Islamic insurgency in the country, popularly called
force that will pilot the economy. Currently, many young Nigerians,
Boko Haram, which is attacking schools and killing schoolchildren,
especially those from poor families are graduating from universities,
thus leading to their mass exodus from schools in the country's North
polytechnics, technical schools, etc., without the required skills needed
East. Recently, the Federal Government was forced to close its colleges
to drive the country's economy. These education failures are not only
in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states for fear of attack by Boko Haram,
thwarting young people's hopes, but they are also jeopardizing
thus further escalating the number of uneducated Nigerians.
3
Another issue that will determine Nigeria's ability to meet the MINT
projection is infrastructure such as electricity, road, housing, water etc.
Nigeria's population of 170 million persons uses the same amount of
electricity that 1.5 million persons use in the United Kingdom. Many
Nigerians depend solely on small private generators as their only
source of electricity. The cost of running industries in the country is
prohibitive and companies invest huge amounts of money to generate
electricity privately. Public electricity supply has been declining. For
example, as of December 2013, there was a decline of electricity supply
from 4,517 megawatts to 3,300 currently. For Nigeria's MINT
aspiration to become an emerging economic power, the question of a
massive increase in electricity generation and distribution is
fundamental.
For Nigeria to become one of the leading world economies in the year
has been more on the policy framework rather than developing
2050, it must bring back the discourse and strategy on industrialization.
practical solutions in solving the housing deficit. Key to the housing
From the 1960s to the 1980s, dominant discourses in Nigeria and other
challenge in Nigeria is the astronomical increase in land prices and
West African states centred on industrialization and growing the
property; poor Nigerians who live below one dollar a day can neither
manufacturing economy. From 1980s and 1990s, during the structural
afford houses nor land to build their houses on. The partnership with the
adjustment programmes, Nigeria and West African states at large left
private sector the government sees as option to making housing
industrialization discourses and forayed into privatization and
available has never played a key role in housing delivery for the urban
commercialization of state owned enterprises, leading to the collapse of
poor. Nigeria has also adopted mortgage financing as a means of
industries and the manufacturing economy.
solving her housing deficit. Unfortunately, the greatest challenge to this
Nigeria must have the ambition to put in place processes and approach is that the poor whom it is targeting cannot afford to access the
procedures that will chart ways for her becoming an industrialized mortgage, either because of the high interest rates, or conditions (such
nation before the year 2050. Currently, Nigeria is placing her efforts on as collateral) the loans set as prerequisites.
the search for foreign investors and privatization of state owned
The ability of Nigeria emerging as a major player in the world economy
enterprise making little or no effort in encouraging the development of
depends on how well the country tackles it current rising
local industries. Unfortunately, private sector engagement in Nigeria is
unemployment. The 2011 Performance Monitoring Report on
usually an operation through which political leaders and their
Government's Ministries, Departments, and Agencies reveals that
surrogates siphon state resources for themselves. Nigeria's and global
unemployment rate in Nigeria was 21.1% in 2010, but increased to
experience shows that privatization in itself cannot transform an
23.9% in 2011. The report also showed that unemployment was
economy. The state and its institutions must play their role in leading
topmost in rural areas at 25.6% compared to urban areas, which have
the process. The Nigerian state must have a clear view of what
17% on average. As of May 2013, the World Bank Nigeria Economic
development is and must identify variables that have the potential to
Report shows that the unemployment rate in Nigeria rose from “12% of
shape the future and determine what its future programme becomes.
the working population in 2006 to 24% in 2011. In a similar way, in
The truth is that you cannot create jobs; end poverty; and have a strong
June 2013, the Honorary International Investors Council (HIIC)
economic base without industrialization.
expressed concern on the high rise of unemployment and the high
As Nigeria envision its future of becoming one of the world's leading growth of poor skilled workforce in Nigeria. The council asked Nigeria
economy by the year 2050, housing provision for her citizens has to enhance its basic education system so that the capacity of the
continued to be a major challenge. The country is witnessing a rapid country's workforce will improve. It is also the opinion of Nigeria's
urbanisation process, and one major challenge it faces is handling the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr.
urbanisation process. In Nigeria, government does not consider Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala: “each year, about 1.8 million young Nigerians
housing development as a fundamental sector for national enter into our labour market and we need to ensure that the economy
development. Therefore government intervention in housing provision provides jobs for them.”
The high level of poverty prevalent in the country corroborates well the
high level of unemployment in Nigeria. The National Bureau of
Another issue that will Statistics report shows that 69% of Nigerians live below the poverty
line. Between 2010 and 2012, the percentage of Nigerians living below
determine Nigeria's ability to the poverty line grew to 67% according to the World Bank. For over a
decade, Nigeria has had economic growth that is yet to be translated
meet the MINT projection is into job creation and human development. The country cannot be a
leading world economy without providing jobs and reducing poverty.
infrastructure such as electricity, Of course, government cannot provide all the needed jobs, but it has the
responsibility to create a conducive atmosphere for the private sector to
road, housing, water etc. thrive and in turn create jobs.
4
understand that to achieve greatness, political will and strong
commitment is required. Development will not happen overnight; it
needs carefully thought-out developmental programmes. In addition,
the development process must take on board civil society and
encourage people's participation in the process. In this regard, civil
society must be encouraged and enabled to hold the state to be
accountable to the people. The state must invest reasonably on
education, with particular focus on improving the quality of basic
education but also developing the research capacity of tertiary
institutions. The growth of science and technology is necessary if
economic transformation is to occur. Furthermore, to have a strong
economic base, Nigeria must tackle the challenges confronting the
informal sector. The sector suffers from insufficient access to credit,
lack of electricity supply, heavy taxation and so on. Statistics from the
Even as Nigeria envisions being among the MINT countries by 2050,
Ministry of Labour and Productivity shows that the informal sector
she makes little or no effort to tap into her Demographic Dividend. The
provides about 60% of Nigeria's GDP. Like in other developing nations,
country seems less concerned on developing her youth who are the
the informal sector is fundamental to job creation, and government
engine room of economic dynamism; it doesn't seem to care much about
ought to take the sector very seriously. Policies such as
what they want or need; and tends to downplay their importance in
entrepreneurship development; international financial assistance;
economic growth. Most young people are disillusioned and are not
credit provision through microfinance banks, among others, tailored
certain of their future. There is a risk that disaffected youth might
towards promoting and advancing the informal sector, must go beyond
translate their frustrated energy into activities that will threaten the
pronouncements and be translated into concrete plans of action. The
stability and security of the country.
role of the informal sector in economic growth cannot be contested
The rising spate of youth-led protests across Africa is a demonstration globally, therefore, the Nigerian state must promote and support the
of their discontent. Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya are indications of what the informal sector via efficient macroeconomic policies aimed at boosting
youth could do when they have no jobs and when they build up political the sector's performance.
and socio-economic grievances. Most of the African youth do not
In conclusion, one can add that mega-corruption is a major clog on the
believe in the will and commitment of their political leaders to solve
wheel of Nigeria's development. It is imperative that the country
their problems. They believe that the political system is very unfair,
improves its transparency and accountability mechanisms so that
very corrupt, and aimed at creating greater inequality. The society has
resources for development do not continue to disappear into private
become very religious, but the obvious fact is that Nigeria and Africa at
pockets. In addition, the country must make necessary efforts to address
large cannot use miracles or magic to solve the problems posed by the
the political instability it faces, arising from Boko Haram insurgency,
demographic challenge. The solution is either to create jobs or to face
and the subsequent destruction of the economy and the society in the
anger and restlessness from the youth. If the Nigerian state does not do
North East. It is also necessary for the country to reduce its dependency
more to empower the youth, there is a real risk of revolutionary change,
on the exportation of petroleum. The diversification of the economy
and the new traditions seen in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya could be re-
must happen if the MINT ambition is to be met. Nigeria's emergence as
enacted. If that happens, it is likely that the entire continent will
a leading world economy is possible but it will depend on how
experience an African Spring. Therefore, the assurance that Nigeria will
efficiently the country could address the challenges identified above.
still exist in 2050 is itself a function of what the state does to secure the
survival of the country.
In addition, the country must
Having Nigeria as a member of the MINT countries gives lots of hope
and aspirations, however this prospect can only be envisaged when a make necessary efforts to address
development consensus emerges from the state politics and
governance, which is necessary to start the process of making Nigeria a the political instability it faces,
developmental state that acts proactively to transform the economy and
the society. Yes, government propaganda may posit that Nigeria's arising from Boko Haram
achievements qualify the country as a MINT member, but real action is
necessary to realize our ambitions. Although Nigeria has the potential insurgency, and the subsequent
of becoming a leading world economy by the year 2050, factors that
will make her realize this ambition are not given adequate attention. The destruction of the economy and
country must begin to act urgently in the arenas of human capital
development, job creation, poverty reduction, infrastructure, the society in the North East. It is
industrialization. This would be the basis for a 'minted' future.
also necessary for the country to
For Nigeria to transform her economy, the economic growth model
ought to be replaced with a new development paradigm that approaches reduce its dependency on the
development holistically rather than the present jobless economic
growth. Nigeria in setting her development benchmarks has to exportation of petroleum
5
SOCIAL MEDIA AND ELECTIONS IN GHANA AND
NIGERIA: EXPANDING CITIZENS' PARTICIPATION
Terfa Hemen
The internet has changed every facet of life today; it is actually difficult independence of the electoral management bodies is constantly in
doubt. Consequently, people's confidence with respect to the electoral
to remember how the world was without it. Over the past couple of
process erodes, and election results are often contested, which in most
decades, there have been breath-taking advances in communication
cases brings about violence; and in earlier years, it was a good reason
technologies and in their application. A few short years ago no one could
for the military taking over power from the civilians in the guise of
have foreseen the explosive growth of Facebook and Twitter. What is
sustaining political stability in the affected the countries.
more, these kinds of innovations seem to be continuing at an
accelerating rate. In recent years the practise of democracy has also Over the years, the control of the electoral process by often-funded
been enmeshed in this change drawing a contrast to what previously election management bodies—with chairs frequently appointed by the
obtained. President— became a worrisome concern, especially with regard to the
announcing of elections results. The actions of the Chair of the Nigeria
The practice of democratic governance in West Africa has so far failed
Independent Elections Commission (INEC), Maurice Iwu, and the
to transform into dividends of democracy yearned for by the citizenry of
manner with which he handled the 2007 elections, particularly the
West African nations. At the centre of this, is the failure of most West
announcing of the results led many in the public sphere to believe that
African nations to conduct elections that meet the aspirations of the
he was indeed working for the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP).
people. The resurgence of liberal democracy in the region, in the early
The objectivity of the media during the process has more often than not
1990s after decades of authoritarian rule in mono-party dominated
been in doubt. In most West African countries, state run media are
states, gave hope to the different peoples of West Africa. Between 1990
firmly under the control of ruling parties, which actually control most of
and 1997, about 42 countries across the continent held multiparty
the media activities. As for the private run media, they can, in some
elections, showing a reversal from the past. Years down the line, the
cases, be subjective in their reportage of the electoral process,
region is still plagued by poverty, poor infrastructure, corruption, and
depending on what informs their bias.
more worrisome, by fear of what is today referred to as democratic
reversals due to leaders' authoritarian tendencies. Senegal's then Until a few years ago the scenario described above dominated the
President, Abdoulaye Wade, and his intention in 2012 to impose his son, region. The revolution in information and communication technology
Nigeria's ex-President Obasanjo and his drive for a third term; President
Blaise Compaore's current political manoeuvres to amend article 37 of
Burkina Faso's Constitution to remain in power, Yahya Jammeh The internet has changed
authoritarianism in the Gambia, these examples bring to the fore such a
concern. every facet of life today; it is
As already noted, elections in West African countries have largely failed actually difficult to remember
to live up to people's expectations mostly because the legal and
institutional frameworks that guide their conduct have never really how the world was without it.
worked. Governments in power often control the electoral process; the
6however changed the situation. It completely redefined the rules of
engagement. The emergence and development of information The democratic values of social
technology has led to the creation of an electronic public sphere, made
possible not only by the use of internet for the conduction of electronic media mean that anyone from
polls, but also by the citizens' access capability to any kind of political
information concerning the local, national, and international processes around the world can engage
and procedures. Moreover, the creation and operation of chat rooms for
politic themes and real-time communication provides the ability of with an event happening
consolidating the necessary communication among citizens. Modern
technology annihilates the geographical distance, thereby giving anywhere in the world
electorates a chance to meet regardless of where they live or work. This
sphere favoured the emergence of social media and the breakdown of regardless of their governments'
most barriers to communication. It is within this sphere that West
Africa's citizenry is engaging the electoral process in a manner hitherto view of the event, provided that
never experienced.
the proper access exists
The democratic values of social media mean that anyone from around
the world can engage with an event happening anywhere in the world In August of 2012, a few months to the general elections, Ghana had a
regardless of their governments' view of the event, provided that the total of 1, 367, 820 Facebook active users. Further examination of the
proper access exists. Social media's attributes of immediacy, data revealed that, during that period, 32% of those users were aged
accessibility, real time acquisition and exchange of information, easy between 25 and 31, while another 41% was between the age of 18 and
usage of interface, and interactivity based on the evolving technology 24 years. Mobile phone penetration in the period stood at 88%, with a
advances in mobile phone and tablet technology have given power to a total of about 21,265,706 active mobile phone lines. Other platforms
hyper active youth that is getting more and more involved, on a daily like Twitter and YouTube had significant numbers as well. They
basis, in the governance process, including the electoral process. influenced the way the electoral process manifested.
Dependence on traditional media platforms is gradually being
overtaken by social media. The nature of the electoral process in Ghana Even before the actual voting day, social media had started playing a
and Nigeria are good illustrations of how social media are expanding significant role. Building on the background laid by the Ghana
citizens' involvement in elections. Electoral Commission with respect to the bio-metric registration of
voters, technology became a significant part of the election. Owing to
initial fears and the scepticism on the part of citizens as regards the use
Ghana of bio-metrics for voter registration, the online platform Ghana Decides
The democratic process in Ghana has been hailed as one the best on the embarked on an intensive campaign to acquaint Ghanaians to the
African continent in the recent past. An assessment report on process. The platform employed all her channels including, Facebook,
democratic governance in Ghana by the United States Agency for Twitter, Flickr and YouTube. The twitter hashtags, #iRegistered and
International Development (USAID): #GhanaDecides created by Ghana Decides to enhance participation of
the electorate opened the space for more interactive discussion and
“rated Ghana highly on most of the basic measures of democracy, including general participation, especially among youths. By the end of the
protection of fundamental civil liberties and human rights. Over the past two exercise, a total of 14.5 million voters were registered, while over 10,
decades, the country has been successful in holding free and fair elections,
000 fraudulent efforts to register were curtailed. Even the verification of
decreasing poverty, and moving toward the achievement of many of the
registered voters was done through SMS, which made the verification
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). These are significant
accomplishments. Where Ghanaian democracy has been less successful is in process easy and very convenient. It is a strategy that can be adopted by
the nature and scope of the participation of most political actors in the other nations in the region heading towards elections. The Flickr
country's governance processes and institutions beyond elections. Effective accounts, for instance, placed pictures of young Ghanaians, especially
participation in the making and implementation of public policy has been those voting for the first time, to encourage their peers to follow suit.
limited to a small number of political elites who succeeded in capturing the Another trend emerged during the pre-election period, in which
presidency, albeit through fairly competitive elections, along with the control candidates initiated the use of Facebook as a platform for campaigns.
of the country's resources, which the constitution places under the control of
An obvious example is Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom of the Progressive
the executive branch”.
People's Party who, with more than 10, 555 followers on Facebook on
Until the general elections in 2012, the conduct and participation in the 7th April 2012, requested that his followers participate in an online chat
elections were basically along traditional lines with control of the with him, which was an opportunity to engage them on a one-one basis
process by the electoral commission under the Electoral Commission while giving them the chance to ask questions and make comments.
Act of 1993 (Act 451). The commission had total control over the Who would have thought about this a decade ago? The presidential
process, from voters' registration to the announcing of the results. While debates were covered live on YouTube and accessed by many Ghanaian
the electoral commission still enjoys the control over certain aspects of citizens at home and abroad as well.
the process like voters' registration, the same cannot be said regarding
On Election Day, the Social Media Tracking Centre (SMTC) was
the election results. The internet and the social media platforms like
deployed to monitor the election in real time. Earlier in 2011, the
Facebook and Twitter have redefined the rules of engagement.
technology was successfully used in the general elections in Nigeria.
7Using the Aggie social media tracking software developed at Georgia communication technology has redefined the landscape. Governments
Tech, it identified social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, no longer have total control over the information; citizens, via the
Google+, and a host of individual blogs were streamlined into the Aggie internet, mobile phones etc., have an unbelievable access to the
platform and election results and other related events streamed in real information and great ability to engage the electoral process like never
time, allowing access to live information. Trends were grouped around before. The emergence of social media has further enhanced such a
voting logistics, violence, political parties, etc. The SMTC team reality. Today the Nigerian citizen no longer has to wait to engage most
watched the developments and could quickly detect possible election facets of life. One illustrative area is the electoral process.
irregularities or violence occurrences that warranted further attention;
these reports were then categorized as incidents. By the end of the This fact came to the fore owing to the changes witnessed in Nigeria,
elections, over a quarter million of reports had been monitored via the especially during the 2011 general elections. Social media redefined
platform and about 350 incidents logged. No more will Ghanaian citizens' engagement, not just with themselves, but with the INEC in
citizens have to wait for traditional media to inform them on the ways never before experienced. Platforms like Twitter, Facebook,
outcome of elections. Technology has directly given them the ability to YouTube, Flickr became the prominent spheres for engagement. The
engage, follow and report on the outcomes of the process. frenzy caught up with politicians, electorates, media houses and even
the election management body. In the days leading up to the elections
During the post-election period, the platforms continued to be useful, the over 5 million users on Facebook were engaged one way or the other
even the electoral commission established their own social media in the electoral process. President Goodluck Jonathan announced his
outlets, and results were pasted on them for easy access. Thus, one did bid for the highest office on Facebook. On Wednesday, September 15th,
not have to wait for announcements on radio or television. Citizens 2010, he informed his 217,000-plus fans on the world's most popular
continued to engage in debates and dialogues on the elections; one did networking platform of his intent. Twenty four hours later, 4,000 more
not need to get to a radio station or television to do so.. Also, their fans joined his page. By the day of the election, on April 16th, 2011, he
mobile phones allowed them to interact with their fellow countrymen, had over half a million followers. Even the INEC, which in earlier years
not just those within the country, but those across the globe as well. On relied on government media outlets and on few private ones took to
the whole, and thanks to technology, Ghana's polls were acclaimed as social media. Between 10 March 10th and April 16th, 2011, the
the freest, fairest and most transparent elections in the region, raising electoral commission posted almost 4,000 tweets, many in response to
the bar for other African countries' future elections. voter queries. Using Twitter, commission officials at polling stations
around the country were also able to communicate among themselves,
Nigeria and even confirmed the death of one of their members who had been
Nigeria's history of Democracy has been more turbulent than Ghana's; attacked. "Twitter ultimately proved to be the most efficient way to
in the post independence period, in the 1960s, both countries have been interact with INEC," the document authors report. The commission's
mostly dominated by military rule. A culture of concentration of power use of social media led to its website receiving a record 25 million hits in
at the centre is one of the military's legacies, which continue to be a three days during the presidential elections. "By using social media to
challenge to the democratic sphere. The country's history of elections is inspire voters, the electoral commission has redefined elections in
filled with intrigues along regional, ethnic, tribal and religious lines. Nigeria.
Most often, the result was the thwarting of civilian regimes, dating back
Campaigns before election became prominent on social media
to the first episode, the 1966 coup that laid the foundation for the
platforms in which candidates engaged the Nigerian populace. Civil
military's incursion into politics. From 1999 till date, Nigeria has
Society organizations found a space in which they could engage the
enjoyed the longest span of democratic governance more than at any
process, unchallenged. Groups like Reclaim Naija, Enough is Enough,
point in time in the nation's history. The conduct of elections has been
Project Swift Count, Situation Room came with different initiatives that
one of the biggest challenges to democracy in Nigeria. The failure to
expanded the citizens' sphere of engagement. The Enough is Enough
accept elections results has often been the main cause of the collapse of
network initiated the Register, Select (ed), Vote and Protect (RSVP),
democratic governance in Nigeria, with the different electoral bodies in
which focused on all stages of the election process (pre, during, and post
charge of the elections being the main malefactor. In the eyes of so many
election periods).The project's target was to turn 87,297,789 Nigerians
Nigerians, the role of electoral commissions has over time left much to
with mobile phones and 43, 982,200 with internet access into informal
be desired. The actions of Maurice Iwu, the Chair of the INEC during
election observers.
the 2007 elections, brought the issue to the fore more than at any point in
time in Nigeria's history. They also contributed to the elections being
branded among the worst in the country's history. The INEC's Chair
Social media redefined citizens'
appointment by the President and his seemingly overwhelming control
engagement, not just with
over the electoral commission has often led to accusations of bias by the
electoral umpire in favour of ruling governments. The control of themselves, but with the INEC in
channels of communications in earlier times also did not help matters as
citizens had to solely rely on them for all kinds of information, even ways never before experienced.
those relating to the electoral process, including the announcement of
election results. Platforms like Twitter, Facebook,
Until the emergence of private media, information was to a large extent YouTube, Flickr became the
controlled by the government. Today, the information landscape has
changed. Like everywhere else in the world, information and prominent spheres for engagement
8implication being that more and more people will be able to afford
them. Cheaper models from China are now readily available across the
region. Fourth, because electoral management bodies are aware of the
benefits of using social media in the last elections, they are bound to
continue in this direction. Liaisons with civil society groups in the last
elections went a long way in reposing confidence in the process, in both
Nigeria and Ghana. Collaborations have already started in Nigeria as
civil society groups in the country have been actively engaging in the
collection of Permanent Voters Cards and in Continuous Voters
Registration exercises in Ekiti and Osun states, in South West Nigeria,
in the lead up to the gubernatorial elections on the 21st June and 9th
August 2014 respectively. The hashtags #OsunDecides and
#EkitiDecides are helping inform the electorate in those states with
respect to the coming elections, enhancing interactive discussions
among citizens, INEC and civil society organisations. It can only be
hoped that as the stakes get higher, the negative potentials which
accompany the use of such platforms in the dissemination of
information do not come to adversely impact the electoral process. In
diverse countries like Nigeria and Ghana in particular, a wrong tweet or
posting on Facebook can lead to chaos. Necessary checks, advise and
On election day, the Social Media Tracking Centre gathered and sensitization on the need to positively use these technologies will be
effectively analysed the importance of real-time data collected from the important measures in the coming months and years as more youths
different technologies that were in use, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or engage in the process. The possibility of chaos resulting from the use of
mobile phones, by the different civil society organisations that had social media is real. Putting in place the necessary checks is the only
adopted the use of social media as a means of observing and monitoring way out. While this is the case, in recent times there have been
the elections. The Election Situation Room was another concept pronouncements in Nigeria towards censorship of social media by the
fashioned after the war time situation room. It was also organized by government, in view of the positive impacts that social media has had
civil society organizations, and employed the use of social media on our society especially on a process like elections, one hopes that such
platforms and SMS technology as well to engage the elections. Reports censorship does not in any way deter the success made by the citizenry
of incidents across the country were streamed in real time. Additionally, in engaging not just elections but all other issues that promote a
a liaison was made with INEC to effectively tackle the problem. democratic society.
Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) and social media in
particularly bridged the gap between citizens and INEC, no longer were Ghana and Nigeria have laid the foundations for future successful
there suspicions; everyone was working towards the success of the electoral elections as illustrated by the route taken by many post 2011
elections. Today, the 2011 election are referred to as one of the country's and 2012 elections. While there are inherent dangers with the use of
best elections despite the challenges witnessed. To track violence, social media, the positives outweigh the negatives if one recalls what
which has been a major bane with Nigerian elections, the Nigerian the situation was a few decades ago. What happened in Nigeria and
Election Violence Report is used the Ushahidi Platform embedded with Ghana can only be consolidated. The future and legitimacy of elections
an SMS monitor to receive information on acts of violence during in the region depends so much on how citizens are able to engage the
elections. electoral process. Social media platforms, alongside the mobile phone
technology have created the space and laid the foundation for
As election beckons in the coming years, we can only imagine what successful elections, it is now up to West African citizens to consolidate
power ICTs and social media can still provide the citizenry of not only their engagement in the coming years.
Ghana and Nigeria, but from the whole of West Africa to engage the
process in ways that will make them more transparent. There are
various indicators that suggest that these technologies will, in the “Social media platforms,
coming years, impact more the outcomes of elections. First, the
population of Ghana and Nigeria, especially the youth, is on the alongside the mobile phone
increase; and they are a more technology savvy generation seeking to
explore these technologies in ways that could enhance their
technology have created the
engagement in the political space, which in turn can give them better
livelihoods. Second, the use of these social media platforms is on the
space and laid the foundation for
increase. Today, the numbers are vastly different from what was
recorded three or so years ago. Ghana, for instance, has now more than 1
successful elections, it is now up
million Facebook. The interest the coming elections are bound to stir
will without doubts send these figures up as 2016 gets closer. In Nigeria,
to West African citizens to
the numbers have significantly shot up from recorded in 2011, as in consolidate their engagement in
2013, over 11 million Nigerians were active on Facebook, surpassing
South Africa. Third, the technologies are getting cheaper, the the coming years.”
9POST-ARAB SPRING: ECOWAS AND THE PROMOTION
OF DEMOCRATIC VALUES IN WEST AFRICA
Shola Omotola (PhD)
The Arab spring
may have come
and gone.
However, its impact
has been far-
reaching in the
affected countries
or regions and
beyond.
Introduction notably the internet and mobile phones, as well as the online accessories they
offer such as Facebook and Twitter, as tools for social mobilization, social
action and regime change. It also reveals that, contrary to the emphasis on
The Arab spring may have come and gone. However, its impact has been far-
'formal organisational' issues in the conventional literature on civil society, the
reaching in the affected countries or regions and beyond. There have also been
civil populace can, through the new/social media, actually 'organise' without
genuine concerns about the potential for spillover or contagion into other
identifiable leadership and coordination, thereby limiting predictability of
regions of the continent. Such a concern is understandable given that the
social action and government's control. The uprisings generated different
conditions that generated and propelled the uprisings in the Middle East and
responses from different governments. It similarly led to different outcomes in
North Africa (MENA) are present in many other African countries, namely
different countries. In Tunisia and Egypt, for example, the uprisings toppled
governance and legitimacy crisis. Outside Africa, concerns have also been
long-standing authoritarian regimes without much bloodshed/deaths. In Libya,
raised, especially in the light of political developments in the affected countries,
on the contrary, the revolt degenerated into civil war or what has been called an
most notably the increasing role that Islamist forces have come to play in the
'armed rebellion'. The key insights from the above points are many. One,
aftermath of the Arab spring. The West seems to be worried, not only about the
national specifics or contextual variables can shape the course and cause of
assumed incompatibility of Islamist ideology with democratic values, but also
popular revolts, official responses and outcomes. One can therefore argue that
about the possibility of Islamist regimes pushing the 'clash of civilizations' a
any African government which ignores the power of social media as tools for
little further, which is a development that could embolden local Islamist forces
political and social reengineering, especially in relation to collective civil
elsewhere to challenge the existing order. This insight focuses on the post-Arab
actions, is easily vulnerable. Two, a government cannot really repress the
spring, with emphasis on the possibility of spillover into West Africa. It also
popular will of the people, particularly when it is intrinsically genuine, as
explores the role of the Economic Community of West African State
opposed to induced revolts. Furthermore, it appears that the initial termination
(ECOWAS) in promoting democratic governance as an antidote to the
of a regime, whatever forms it may take, does not automatically end a revolt.
reincarnation of the Arab spring in the sub-region. Finally, the insight
undertakes a prognostic analysis underscoring the possibility and limitation of
such a development in West Africa, before concluding with some projections Possibilities and Limitations of Spillover
with respect to the issue in the coming years.
The question of whether the Arab spring could be replicated in other parts of
Africa has been on the plate since the uprisings in North Africa. Such a concern
Key Issues and Lessons of the Arab Spring is understandable for a number of reasons, which largely explain the
possibilities of contagion in West Africa.
The starting point is a careful identification of key issues in the development and
implementation of the Arab spring. Such reflections offer important entry point To begin with, the conditions that underpinned the Arab spring, both as triggers
into a critical analysis of the West African case. and accelerators, namely governance and legitimacy crisis, and the increasing
spread and influence of the new/social media, are known to be hugely present in
First, the Arab spring was monumentally unprecedented in the region. It the sub-region. With respect to the former (governance and legitimacy crisis),
challenged long-standing authoritarian regimes, leading to their eventual there are sufficient reasons to be worried. Although almost all West African
demise. Second, the uprisings were largely unanticipated. Third, despite notable countries have exited the formal authoritarian typology, following the spread of
contextual variations in the triggers and accelerators of the uprisings, a common the third wave of democratization beginning from the early 1990s, the
denominator seems to be the all-pervasive governance and legitimacy crisis in democratic credentials of most of these countries hardly transcend the hold of
these countries, evidenced in the lack of accountability and delivery of public periodic, but facade elections that are anything but credible and legitimate. Most
goods and services. , Surprisingly, Tunisia provided the critical tipping point for of these elections are characterised by poor level of competition, so much so that
the uprising before spreading to Egypt and Libya, among others. Until then, the ruling party always won in landslides despite poor performance in power,
Tunisia had always 'projected an image of stability to the world and with limited or no chance of power alternation. Such tendencies have been
distinguished itself from other Arab countries for its macroeconomic witnessed in Cote d'Ivoire, Nigeria, and Senegal at various stages of the
achievements and progress in the area of economic growth, health, education electoral cycle. The post-election violence that attended the 2010 and 2011
and women's rights'. Yet, the costs of living and level of youth unemployment elections in Cote d'Ivoire and Nigeria respectively are crucial examples. Even in
were extremely high, suggesting that statistics can be misleading and that countries reputed as the flagship and model of electoral politics in West Africa,
growth does not necessarily translate into development, except that, if well most notably Ghana, which boasts two alternations, in 2000 and 2008, the last
managed, its proceeds can help reduce, if not eliminate inequality and election of 2012 was fiercely contested Tension-soaked subsequently, and the
corruption. election outcomes were challenged in the Supreme Court, thereby raising
critical questions about its legitimacy. This raises questions about the
Furthermore, the Arab spring underscores the power of the social media, procedural qualities of African democracies.
10Nigeria in January 2012 over the fuel subsidy palaver. The Nigerian President,
Goodluck Jonathan, was to admit later how terrified its government was about
the possibility of being overthrown, given the unprecedented scale and dynamics
of the civil protests across the country, including the prominent role of popular
culture in the process, and the invention of the Nigerian version of the 'occupy
movement', most illustrated by the use of the Gani Fawehinmi (Freedom) square
as a rallying point in Lagos. If such revolts have happened before, then they can
happen again. If anything, it can be a question of degree, not of kind, suggesting
that the possibilities for such revolts recurring exist, but may not necessarily
follow the same pattern. That is the lesson to be learnt from these array of cases
illustrated above.
Despite these potentials for spillovers, some analysts are sceptical about the Arab
spring-like protests actually happening in West Africa. Their main argument has
been that the relatively homogenous nature of North African countries, with few
exemptions, particularly Libya, played important roles in the success of the
uprisings in the region. This is because, as the argument goes, ethno-religious
homogeneity tends to enhance collective socio-political actions. This contrasts
sharply with those of Sub-Saharan Africa, where most countries are deeply
segmented, which will hamper effective mobilization of the diverse fragments of
Besides, the economic and social foundations of the democratization process society in support of a collective action as in the Arab spring. While such a
have been very weak in many West African countries. This is exemplified by a concern may be valid, it should not be overstressed. As already argues above,
rising level of poverty, youth unemployment, food insecurity and general costs West Africans tend to rise over and above their fault lines of cleavages in support
of living. Take food crisis for example, available statistics reveal that in Benin of a common cause. This was the case during the struggle for 'Africa's second
and Mali, 12% of the population are undernourished. In Niger and Senegal, the liberation' beginning from the late 1980s. This can be replicated in the inevitable,
figures are 16% and 19% respectively. This is a terrible situation because food imminent struggle for good governance and social justice.
insecurity, as some studies showed ,'can increase the risk of governance failures
and lead to protests, violence and civil conflict, while violent conflicts can in turn
create food insecurity, malnutrition and famine'. This can consecutively generate
The Role of the Economic Community of West
and sustain conflict. The civil unrest caused by the volatility of food prices in African States (ECOWAS)
Burkina-Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, and Senegal in 2007 and 2008 are good illustrations
of such a situation. ECOWAS role in the promotion of democratic governance in West Africa,
before, and after the Arab spring, can be assessed in two ways: preventive and
Other interrelated factors have exacerbated the socio-economic fragility of most reactive responses. At the level of prevention, the ECOWAS has some regulatory
West African countries, especially the fast growing population, the youth bulge, norms through which it aspires to promote democratic good governance, thereby
and the increasing influence of social media. The region's land area is roughly 5 preventing popular revolts. These include the treaty establishing the ECOWAS,
million km². In 2010, the West African population stood at approximately 317 which contains important provisions on democratic development; good
million people. However, with an average annual population growth rate governance; and regional security, most notably the maintenance of regional
estimated at 3%, it is forecast that the sub-region's population will reach 430 peace, stability and security through the promotion and strengthening of good
million by 2020, and 500 million between 2030 and 2035. The population is also neighbourliness; recognition; promotion; and protection of human and peoples'
divided along ethno-regional, religious, and linguistics lines, which has posed rights in accordance with the provisions of the African Charter on Human and
serious challenges of democratisation and peace-building'. Peoples' Rights; accountability, economic and social justice and popular
participation in development; and promotion and consolidation of a democratic
Unless something is done to enhance the resourcefulness of these populations, system of governance in each Member State.
including equal economic opportunities, job creation, and human security in
general, they can easily become democratic and developmental liabilities. The Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance of 2001 represents another
Unfortunately, the outlook does not look really good. For example, youth important normative instrument, which maintained the organization's zero
unemployment hovers around 20% in many West African countries, which is in tolerance to unconstitutional changes of government. Specifically, the protocol
line with the current trend in Africa— youth unemployment in sub-Saharan provides, in its Article 1, that every accession to power must be made through
Africa is estimated at over 20%. In the continent, approximately 133 million free, fair, and transparent elections; zero tolerance for power obtained or
young people (more than 50% of the youth population) are illiterate. In the maintained by unconstitutional means; and popular participation in decision-
Nigerian case, the African Development Bank reveals that, in 2011, making; strict adherence to democratic principles. It is instructive to note that the
unemployment rate was at 24% compared to 21% in 2010. More precisely, the protocol also provides for instruments of implementation and sanctions in case
rate was higher among youths aged between15 and 24 (38%); and between 25 of violation as contained in its Article 45 (1-4).
and 44 (22%). Social media too has been growing in terms of accessibility, use,
and influence in the sub-region due to the revolution in information technology.
Unlike in the past decades when the internet and telephones were restricted to
very few households, existing data reveal some improvement, showing some
countries with over 50% improvement in connectivity.
Despite these potentials for
The fact that Africa in general and West Africa in particular has a rich history of
civil activism and protests raises the feasibility of an Arab-spring-like revolt in spillovers, some analysts are
the sub-region. Michael Bratton and Nicholas Van de Walle documented how
protests in the capital city of several African countries in the late 1980s and early sceptical about the Arab
1990s, together with external pressures, played a crucial role in enhancing the
penetration of the current wave of democratization in the continent. Many of spring-like protests actually
such protests occurred in West Africa, most notably Nigeria. More recently,
some other West African countries have witnessed such uprisings, probably
under different circumstances, as was the case in Guinea in 2006 and 2007,
happening in West Africa.
where the people yielded to the call by trade union and civil society organizations
to protest against the authoritarian regime of the then President Lansana Conté,
Their main argument has been
leading to the eventual resignation of the cabinet and the formation of a new
government. Indeed, prior to the 2013 parliamentary election in Guinea, there
that the relatively homogenous
were massive protests led by the opposition over fear of electoral irregularities
by the ruling party. Many people were killed and many more wounded. In nature of North African
Burkina Faso, in 2013, a proposed move to establish a Senate provoked four
massive demonstrations within a month, of which the opposition led three—on countries, with few exemptions,
June28 and 29; and July 20, and President Blaise Compaoré ruling party one,
exactly on 6 July. In Senegal, in 2011, then President Wade was compelled to particularly Libya, played
accede to opposition's demand for protests, albeit following the North African
experience, which reveals the limits of state repression against popular
uprisings. The Y'en A Marre (Enough is Enough or We are Fed Up in French)
important roles in the success
movement, a civil group of friends made up of young journalists and rap
musicians whose band is called 'Keur Gui', led the protest, using it as a tool of
of the uprisings in the region.
mobilization before, during, and after the 2012 elections.. The same happened in
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