A Blessing in Disguise? Ghana’s Potential to Overcome Nigeria’s ‘Oil Curse ’ and Develop a Successful Model for Oil Production Within a

ii Although Africa possesses rich natural resources, the Afro-pessimistic conception that African countries cannot manage their resources remains widespread. This research project provides a comparative analysis between the political and economic histories of Ghana and Nigeria following independence. In addition to focusing on these countries’ post-independent histories, this thesis examines the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) of the early 1990s in Nigeria as an effective civil society organization that vocalized the Nigerian government and Shell Petroleum Corporation’ corruption in the oil industry. Additionally, this research project explores Ghana’s potential to overcome Nigeria’s “negative ” experience with oil due to its relatively stable democracy, diversified and liberalized economy, mutually beneficial relationship with multinational corporations, ability to look to other models of oil production, and vibrant civil society. As necessary components in developing a human rights model of oil production, these qualities enable Ghana to debunk the prevailing idea of the African ‘oi