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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the Republic of Ghana has expressed concern over the threats faced by democracy in West Africa. In a speech delivered at the 2nd ECOWAS Parliamentary Seminar, President Akufo-Addo highlighted several challenges that jeopardize democratic principles in the region.
The President emphasized three major threats to democracy in West Africa. Firstly, he pointed out the attempted confiscation of democracy by elites who manipulate constitutional rules and subvert democratic institutions to cling to power. This practice undermines democratic accountability and erodes the trust of the citizenry.
Secondly, President Akufo-Addo raised concerns about the re-militarization of governance, noting the intrusion of the military into the political scene without a mandate from the people. The President emphasized that the military should not involve itself in politics without consulting or obtaining approval from the citizens it purports to represent.
The third threat mentioned by President Akufo-Addo was the desire of terrorist groups and armed criminal gangs to undermine democracy. These groups seek to establish zones of lawlessness and suppress freedom, posing a deliberate threat to the stability and democratic progress of the region.
President Akufo-Addo drew attention to the importance of democratic governance, quoting Winston Churchill’s famous statement that “democracy is the worst form of governance, except for all the others.” He highlighted that despite occasional setbacks, history has proven that tyranny and oppression are unsustainable in the long run, and people will inevitably gravitate towards democracy and civil liberties.
Acknowledging the challenging economic, political, social, and security situation in the region, President Akufo-Addo expressed concern about the decline in democratic credentials within ECOWAS. He mentioned that four ECOWAS member states are currently led by military governments due to coup d’états, causing tension and anxiety and raising the specter of regional instability.
The President emphasized that the legitimacy of any leader lies in a mandate freely given by the people through fair, peaceful, and transparent elections. He called for distinguishing between legality and legitimacy, stating that stability can only be achieved when leaders possess both. The purpose of democratic governance, he argued, is to foster free government, shared prosperity, equitable justice, and lasting peace for the well-being of the citizenry.
President Akufo-Addo urged ECOWAS legislators to delve deeper into the root causes of democratic regression and political instability in the region. He emphasized the importance of speaking out against leaders who attempt to extend presidential term limits to consolidate their hold on power, as such actions often lead to discontent among the population and create favorable conditions for military interventions.
