The Department of Political Science at the University of Ghana hosted the official launch of the Political Parties and Democracy in Africa (PPADEM) research project on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, at the Kofi Drah Conference Hall. The event brought together academics, international research partners, funding representatives, political party officials and electoral stakeholders to introduce the project and discuss the role of political parties in shaping democratic governance across Africa. The launch marked an important milestone in a collaborative research initiative examining the relationship between political parties, democratisation and democratic resilience on the continent. It also provided a platform for scholarly and practitioner engagement on the challenges facing African political systems and the ways political parties can contribute to strengthening democratic institutions and accountability.
Understanding the Role of Political Parties in African Democracy
The PPADEM project examines the role of political parties in Africa's democratisation processes, the conditions under which parties defend or undermine democratic institutions, and the mechanisms through which party organisations can be supported to strengthen democratic governance and counter democratic decline.
Funded through a European Research Council (ERC) Synergy Grant under the European research funding framework, the project brings together researchers from African and European universities. Its interdisciplinary and comparative approach seeks to generate empirical evidence that can inform academic debates, policy discussions and institutional reforms relating to political parties and democracy.
Professor Isaac Owusu-Mensah, Head of the Department of Political Science at the University of Ghana, delivered the welcome address. The proceedings also featured protocol introductions by Dr. Ruth Ampomah and Isaac Owusu Nsiah.
Professor George Bob-Milliar of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), the project's Principal Investigator, presented an overview of the initiative, outlining its research objectives, geographical coverage and data-collection methods. Jean-Pierre Bardoul, representing the funding body, delivered remarks highlighting the importance of supporting research on democratic governance and strengthening research capacity through international collaboration.
High-Level Panel on Political Parties and Democratic Governance
A major highlight of the launch was a panel discussion moderated by Professor George Bob-Milliar. The panel brought together a former Deputy Commissioner of the Electoral Commission, political party representatives and project investigators to discuss political parties, party-voter relations and electoral integrity.
The discussion provided an opportunity to consider the relationships between political parties and citizens, the functioning of electoral institutions, and the broader implications of party organisation and behaviour for democratic accountability. The engagement also underscored the importance of connecting rigorous academic research with the practical experiences of political and electoral stakeholders.
The launch concluded with a group photograph, a media briefing and networking among participants and project partners.
An International Research Consortium
PPADEM is implemented through a consortium of African and European research institutions, combining expertise in political science, comparative politics, electoral studies and democratic governance.
The participating teams include:
- Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST): Led by Principal Investigator Professor George Bob-Milliar, with contributions from Dr. Soh Hyeon Kim, Ruth Ampomah, Isaac Owusu Nsiah, George Asamoah and Edward Abeku Ampah.
- University of Strathclyde: Led by Corresponding Principal Investigator Professor Robert Mattes, with Dr. Souleymane Yameogo and Katie McGuigan.
- University of Bristol: Led by Principal Investigator Dr. Sarah Lockwood, with Josh Tyler, Dr. Pierre Chadelle and Enocent Nemuramamba.
- University of Reading: Led by Principal Investigator Dr. Matthias Krönke, with Abdulrahman Akinade and two postdoctoral researchers.
The consortium's collaborative structure supports comparative research across different African political contexts while drawing on the expertise and institutional resources of European partner universities.
A Comprehensive, Multi-Country Research Design
The PPADEM study is designed to examine 80 political parties across 25 African countries. Its methodology combines quantitative and qualitative approaches to develop a detailed understanding of party organisations, political behaviour and democratic processes.
The research includes observational studies, archival reviews and interviews with national party officials and local branch members. Dedicated party headquarters and branch-level studies will provide insights into internal party organisation and the relationships between national leadership and grassroots structures.
In partnership with Afrobarometer, the project will also draw on surveys of political and electoral stakeholders and citizens to examine public attitudes towards political parties and patterns of political engagement. Additional analyses of digital communication, party constitutions and election manifestos will help researchers investigate party messaging, organisational practices and policy commitments.
Through this multi-method approach, PPADEM aims to generate comparative evidence on the relationship between political parties and democratic development across the continent.
Advancing Research and Policy on African Democracy
The launch of PPADEM at the University of Ghana reflects the importance of academic institutions as centres for research, public dialogue and collaboration on democratic governance. By bringing together researchers, political party representatives, electoral stakeholders and international partners, the initiative creates opportunities to connect empirical research with contemporary debates about political representation, electoral integrity and democratic accountability.
The Department of Political Science welcomes research engagements of this nature, which contribute to scholarly exchange and deepen understanding of political institutions and democratic processes in Africa.
The project is expected to contribute evidence that can support future research, inform policy discussions and strengthen understanding of how political parties influence democratic trajectories across the continent.
Photo Gallery: Launch of the Political Parties and Democracy in Africa (PPADEM) Research Project at the University of Ghana, 21 October 2026.
