ECONOMIC DIPLOMACY AND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT GHANA UNDER KUFUOR (2001-2008): ‘MAMMON’ AND GOOD NEIGHBOURLINESS.

Abstract

This study seeks to assess the extent to which President Kufuor’s adoption of economic diplomacy impacted the economic growth and development of Ghana from 2001-2008. The economic development of Ghana after inde-pendence vary from one administration to the other with military takeovers influencing and changing the course and rate of development. President Kufuor’s administration however presents a remarkable record of immense economic growth. Kufuor’s era was thus, termed as the “Golden Age of Business” following the gravity of private businesses springing up and an environment created for such initiatives to thrive on. In the final analysis, the study came to the realization that Kufuor’s administration reemphasizes the deepening economic relation Ghana developed with other partners through the implementation of economic diplomacy. The study underlined some initiatives that was embarked on and further provided some macroeconomic indicators representing the level of development during his era. The result revealed the roles of diplomats as primary avenues for the promotion of economic diplomacy and how their activities impact the economic growth of a country.