By Eugene Davis
Democracy Must Deliver Prosperity to Survive – Mahama at Accra Dialogue
President John Mahama has urged African leaders to strengthen and deepen democracy, warning that it cannot endure unless actively nurtured and tied to social and economic progress.
Speaking at the Democracy Dialogue 2025 in Accra, he emphasized that democracy must deliver opportunities and prosperity to survive, echoing Omar Toure’s reminder that any system of government—autocracy, democracy, or theocracy—will fail if it does not benefit the people.
President Mahama reflected on Ghana’s democratic journey, noting its evolution from being the launchpad of Africa’s liberation movement, through cycles of military rule and constitutional governance, to becoming a beacon of democracy since 1992—marked by peaceful transitions, vibrant media, and resilient civil society.
He cautioned, however, that challenges such as youth unemployment, inequality, monetization of politics, and misinformation continue to threaten Ghana’s democratic gains. Drawing on global history, he cited examples of collapse and renewal—from fascism in 1930s Europe to Latin America’s military juntas, Myanmar’s militarism, and the resilience of South Korea and Taiwan in combining democracy with economic growth.
Quoting Czech statesman Vaclav Havel, Mahama stressed that democracy must be fought for daily.
Mr. Mahama noted that since 1992, Ghana has earned recognition as a beacon of democracy through peaceful transitions, vibrant media, and resilient civil society. However, he cautioned that democracy will not endure without deliberate efforts to renew and safeguard it.
“We must strengthen our institutions, deliver development, protect civic space, and build regional solidarity, because the fall of democracy in one nation weakens democracy in all others,” he stressed.
The former president pledged Ghana’s renewed commitment to defend the independence of its institutions, support free expression, and stand with ECOWAS in promoting democratic governance across West Africa.
“Democracy dies when citizens lose faith, when leaders abandon integrity, and when institutions succumb to capture. But democracy can be renewed when citizens rise to defend it,” he said, quoting former Czech President Vaclav Havel to emphasize that the survival of democracy depends on courage, integrity, and collective responsibility.
Mr. Mahama urged participants to let the Accra dialogue mark not a lament for fading democracies but a rebirth of hope, calling on leaders and citizens alike to safeguard democracy for future generations.
“As an African proverb says, when the roots of the tree are deep, there is no reason to fear the wind. If we deepen the roots of our democracy, it will withstand any storm,” he concluded.
Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo added that democracy must be reformed in context, content, and practice, lamenting that the neglect of its essentials has weakened it into “government by some people over all the people.”
