Ghana's Democracy at Crossroads: Mahama Sounds Alarm on Development and Governance
Accra, Ghana - September 17, 2025 - President John Dramani Mahama has cautioned that the country's democracy faces a significant threat of collapse unless it prioritizes development, including infrastructure like roads, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and employment opportunities, to improve citizens' lives. Speaking at the 2025 Democracy Dialogue in Accra, Mahama underscored that democracy's sustainability hinges on delivering tangible benefits to the people, beyond just protecting their rights and freedoms.
Citing Afrobarometer surveys, Mahama revealed that many young Ghanaians are increasingly preferring military rule over democratic governance due to the latter's failure to address their needs. "All the Afrobarometer surveys and other surveys... in many of these surveys, they added the question, do you prefer democratic government or would you support a coup d’état? And it was frightening to notice that a lot of our young people said they would prefer to live under a military government," he said.
To restore trust and credibility in Ghana's governance system, Mahama called for a comprehensive reset. "We need a reset of our democracy. We need a reset of our economy. We need a reset of our governance. We need to make our governance accountable. And that's why I say anybody who wants to serve in public office must be prepared to account to the people," he stated.
Mahama identified corruption, inequality, and elite capture as significant challenges undermining democracy in Ghana. He emphasized the need to tackle these issues with urgency to prevent further disillusionment, particularly among the youth.
The President also highlighted the impact of new media on governance, noting that citizens now engage with governance differently. "We don't have the traditional TV and radios as the main source of information now. Anybody can put a camera in front of his face and can make a commentary on anything," he said, suggesting that accommodating new media in democratic consolidation could be a topic for future dialogue.
He stressed the importance of regional solidarity in promoting democratic governance, warning that the downfall of democracy in one country has ripple effects across neighboring nations. He urged the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to take stronger stances against military coups and unconstitutional changes of government.
The President quoted African proverbs and international statesmen, emphasizing the need for strong democratic foundations. "When the roots of a tree are deep, there is no reason to fear the wind," he said, likening strong democratic values to deep roots that can withstand any storm of unconstitutional governance.
Source - Lead News Online/Emmanuel Kofi Ahadzi
