From Political Rhetoric to Policy Implementation: A Comparison between Ghana Beyond Aid Agenda and Strategy and the Five-Year Economic Development Plan of South Korea

This study analyzes why political rhetoric fails to translate into policy implementation in Ghana Beyond Aid by comparing it with South Korea’s Five-Year Economic Development Plan through the lens of the Multiple Streams Framework. While both countries experienced a policy window in the decision stage, only Korea sustained implementation through adaptive policy change with attention from policy entrepreneurs. In contrast, Ghana’s agenda regressed into rhetoric and weakened streams, exacerbated by external shocks. The findings offer insights for developing countries pursuing self-reliance strategies, emphasizing the need for flexible policy change and continuous leadership engagement to sustain development initiatives beyond political rhetoric.