President Akufo-Addo has urged members of the Parliament of ECOWAS to take action against the rising threats to democracy in the West African region. He identified three significant challenges: the confiscation of democracy by elites, the re-militarization of governance, and the attempts by terrorist groups and criminal gangs to undermine democracy.
Speaking at the 2nd ECOWAS Parliamentary Seminar in Winneba, President Akufo-Addo emphasized the need for collective efforts to reinforce democratic principles and protect the region from instability. He called for measures to entrench democratic accountability among citizens.
President Akufo-Addo expressed concern over the manipulation of constitutional rules and the subversion of democratic institutions by elites seeking to prolong their time in power. He also highlighted the increasing intrusion of the military into politics, occurring without public consent. The President pointed out that terrorist groups and criminal gangs aim to create zones of lawlessness and curtail freedom, posing a deliberate threat to democracy in the region.
Quoting Winston Spencer Churchill’s statement that “democracy is the worst form of governance, except for all the others,” President Akufo-Addo emphasized the historical inevitability of people embracing democracy and civil liberties over time.
He acknowledged the current economic, political, social, and security challenges in the ECOWAS region, noting a decline in democratic credentials and regional instability. Four ECOWAS member states currently have military-led governments due to coups, contributing to regional anxiety and tension.
President Akufo-Addo cited the coup against Niger’s President Mohammed Bazoum, elected through a fair and transparent process, as tragic for democracy in the region. He stressed the importance of leaders gaining legitimacy through free and transparent elections, differentiating between legality and legitimacy.
The President called on ECOWAS legislators to understand the root causes of democratic regression and political instability in the region and to speak out against leaders extending presidential term limits to consolidate their power, a practice that can lead to discontent and military interventions.
In conclusion, President Akufo-Addo affirmed the true purpose of democratic governance: to achieve free government, shared prosperity, equitable justice, and lasting peace for the well-being of citizens. He encouraged ECOWAS Parliament to play an active role in preserving democracy and ensuring the legality and legitimacy of leadership within the region.
The seminar addressed the theme, “Challenges Relating to Unconstitutional Changes of Government and Presidential Term Limits in West Africa – Role of the ECOWAS Parliament,” focusing on strategies to combat these challenges effectively.