Includes index.

Contents: Elements and principles of government: Meaning and scope of government -- Types, forms and ideologies of government -- The citizen, human rights and freedoms -- Meaning and purpose of constitution -- The Executive arm of government -- The national legislature -- The Judiciary -- The Public administration -- The Security services -- Political party system -- Political education and the media -- The electoral system and processes -- Governments in West Africa -- Indigenous governments in Wes Africa -- Colonial rule of West Africa -- Growth of nationalism in British West Africa -- Digging u for our heritage -- Political development in Ghana before independence - Political development in Ghana after independence - Constitutional changes in Nigeria before independence - Political events in Nigeria after independence -- Political developments in Sierra Leone and the Gambia -- Political developments in Cote D'ivoire from 1946 -- West Africa in the community of nations -