Constitutional Democracy in Africa: A Comparative Analysis of Sub-Saharan Commonwealth Countries

This book examines the development of constitutional democracy in Commonwealth Sub-Saharan African countries. It focuses specifically on the constitutional systems of different countries and their effectiveness in curbing excesses in the exercise of government powers and functions. The work highlights a culture of subordination prevalent in the governance structure inherited from the colonial era in Sub-Saharan Africa and identifies weaknesses in the ability of existing constitutional institutions to properly implement the doctrine of separation of powers and systems of checks and balances. The work is divided into three parts: Part I considers the theoretical concept of constitutional democracy and its relevant institutions, while also examining the role of separation of powers in constitutional democracy and the different constitutional systems in Commonwealth Sub-Saharan Africa. Part II focuses on the development of constitutionalism in Commonwealth Sub-Saharan Africa, using certain Commonwealth countries as case studies, and examines the institutional operating framework and features of the organs of government within their constitutional democratic systems. The third and final part compares the constitutional restraints on government practices existing in the constitutional democratic systems of some Commonwealth Sub-Saharan African countries, and makes a series of detailed recommendations designed to strengthen the operation of separation of powers and systems of checks and balances in constitutional systems in Sub-Saharan Africa. The book will be of interest to academics, researchers and policy-makers working in the areas of Comparative Constitutional Law and Politics, African History and African Studies.

Adekunle Osibogun is Research Fellow at the University of Buckingham, UK.