Aid's political consequences : the embedded aid system

This article describes the political consequences of aid, intended and unintended. It argues that the foreign aid system in Ghana is embedded with in its state and society, and that contemporary Ghanaian politics is characterized by the way aid dependency intermingles with the practices of its representative democracy. Political reality in Ghana is shaped by the multiple interfaces of interactions among the government, citizens, bilateral and multilateral aid agencies and international NGOs. Donors not only shape the political landscape, but are also situated within it and participate in governance processes. The article concludes by identifying existing and potential implications of this situation.