The Digest:
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has declared that democracy in Africa risks collapse unless stakeholders urgently reform electoral systems to prevent manipulation and ensure underperforming leaders are voted out. Speaking at the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Democracy Dialogue in Ghana, he emphasized accountability, youth inclusion, and citizen-centric governance.
Key Points
- Jonathan identified electoral manipulation as the biggest threat to African democracy, enabling non-performing leaders to cling to power.
- He warned that failed democracies could lead to authoritarianism if citizens’ basic needs (security, jobs, education) remain unmet.
- The dialogue called for democracy beyond elections, prioritizing accountability, institutional strength, and civic engagement.
- Ghana’s President Mahama stressed that democracy requires active protection, including a free press and anti-corruption measures.
- Former President Obasanjo declared Africa’s current democratic model “unsustainable” without immediate reform.
- Jonathan advocated intergenerational governance: youth energy guided by elder wisdom.
- ECOWAS leaders, Bishop Kukah, and policymakers echoed the need for inclusive, development-focused democracy.
The dialogue underscores a continental crisis of democratic legitimacy, where elite self-perpetuation trumps public welfare, demanding systemic overhaul to restore citizen trust.
Sources: Daily Trust
