Chapter 5 institutional actors. However, these traditions lack clear strategies and standards for leadership recruitment, resource mobilization and political communication. At the same time, the wider social and political structures in Ghana exhibit a dual value system that widens the gap between the aspirations of the political elites and the voting population. Until all the above gaps are bridged through political and legislative reforms, the risk of violent conflict inspired by acrimonious political interactions will remain. This chapter explores such questions as: how do political actors behave in a changing environment; what informs intemperate political discourse in the mass media; what kinds of regulatory reforms have occurred to contain changing political interactions; and how does the electorate respond to the conduct of political elites? The first section explores the nature of political development in the context of partisan politics in Ghana and the inherent structures that promote interaction among the actors. The nature and characteristics of political leadership and political interactions is then discussed. The subsequent section explores the impact of the above on political participation. The paper concludes by highlighting key points raised in the discussion. The Legal-Historical Environment in Ghana since 1992 In 1992, the then military regime of the Provisional National Defence Council(PNDC) led by Flight-Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings returned the country to constitutional rule following a national referendum that accepted the Fourth Republican Constitution in 49 1992. This provided for general elections every four years as the mechanism for ushering in a new government, with the first 49 The Constitution then entered into force on 7 January 1993 under the Constitution of the Republic of the Fourth Republic of Ghana(Promulgated) Law, 1992 142