ABSTRACT
Ghanaian political studies have in the past turned their attention from nationalism to nation building, from ideology to pragmatic political economy, from one-partyism to military rule, from macro political processes to micro political enquiry, from development to dependency and structural underdevelopment. If indeed Ghana emerges from this study as a political microcosm, it is worthwhile glancing, albeit briefly, at some of the implications of the Ghanaian political experience for an understanding of political processes elsewhere. The preliminary comparison of Ghana with other countries, especially in Africa, may be useful in pinpointing areas of similarity and, more significantly, in highlighting differences that may assist in illuminating critical patterns beyond its boundaries. The possibilities for understanding similarities and differences that emanate from an in-depth study of Ghanaian politics provoke some comments on more general ramifications for the field of political enquiry.
