The Psychological Impact of Partisan Loyalty on National Development: Exploring the Role of Political Allegiance in Ghana's Socioeconomic Progress

Abstract

Background: Ghana’s political landscape is characterized by intense partisan loyalty, often

prioritizing party interests over national development. While democratic engagement is vital,

excessive allegiance to political parties fosters polarization, hindering policy implementation,

governance, and social cohesion. This study investigates the psychological underpinnings of

partisan loyalty and its socioeconomic consequences in Ghana.

Methodology: A qualitative approach was adopted, combining in-depth interviews and focus

group discussions (FGDs) with 50 purposively sampled participants, including party members,

analysts, civil society leaders, and citizens. Data were analyzed thematically using NVivo, with

frameworks from social identity theory and political psychology.