Introduction to Public Policy in Ghana: Conceptual and Practical Insights

Public policymaking is arguably the most important exercise in contemporary governance. Decisions of policymakers have direct and indirect implications for the well-being and aspirations of citizens. Since the beginning of human society, public policy has always been part of arrangements to promote collective well-being. Though recent studies of public policy are often associated with the modern state, it is important to note that the different forms of states that existed in Africa prior to colonial rule engaged in decision making akin to what contemporary public policy represents. To this end, public policies are the expressions of the common heritage, historical experiences, and socioeconomic development aspirations of societies. The historical events that birth a country often shape its orientations toward the future, and this often finds expression in the kinds of public policy choices it makes. For instance, anglophone and francophone African countries continue to be influenced in terms of their view of the future by Great Britain and France, respectively, despite the popular yearning to break with the traditions of colonialism. The type of society and country that is built depends on the extent to which historical antecedents, common heritage, and founding visions are articulated and embedded within the social foundations of policy development and practices. Public policy as a critical device in the toolbox of any society does not move from theory to practice without carefully thought-out intermediations. These intermediations are expressed through various policy interventions that shape how resources are to be committed, in which areas, the expertise and energies that are required, and the desired quantitative and qualitative mobilizations necessary.