Globalization and Development Gap in Developing Countries A Comparison of Post- Independence Development Trajectories of Ghana and Singapore

The aftermath of World War II in 1945 witnessed the dawn of a new era of global development system. Over 50 years down the line, globalisation has not brought true global development as is evident in the development gap between countries. The paper examines development trajectories of countries since the colonial era and attempts to explain the factors accountable for the different development levels today. Comparing Ghana and Singapore, the paper argues that in terms of political dispensation, the combined-factors of slave trade and colonialism, coupled with political instability, leadership deficit and institutional incapacity have affected Ghana’s development. Similarly, in the economic sector, foreign aid went against Ghana whilst foreign trade and investment favoured Singapore. Finally, education and technology have been the social bedrock for the steady progress of Singapore as compared to Ghana. The paper concludes that, underdevelopment stems from a complex combination of both internal and external political, economic and social factors that are both historic and current. In the end, this paper argues that no single theory or discourse can fully explain development. Rather, an in-depth diagnosis of such historic and current factors provides a stouter platform on which sustainable development can be achieved.

Keywords: globalization, politics, leadership, economic development, social factor