Former President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama, Nigeria’s former President Olusegun Obasanjo, alongside other global leaders and policymakers, have called for an urgent rethinking of Africa’s democratic practices to ensure it delivers peace, accountability, and sustainable development for citizens.
The leaders spoke at the 2025 edition of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF) Democracy Dialogue, held this week in Accra, Ghana, under the theme “Why Democracies Die.”
Jonathan, who is Chairman and Founder of the GJF, said democracy in Africa was under severe strain and risked collapse unless stakeholders act to reform it. He identified electoral manipulation as one of the continent’s greatest threats, noting that many leaders subvert the system to entrench themselves in power.
“We in Africa must begin to look at our democracy and rethink it in a way that works well for our people. One of the problems is our electoral system. People manipulate the process to remain in power by all means. If we had proper elections, a leader who fails to perform would be voted out,” Jonathan said.
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He added that democracy must go beyond elections to deliver on citizens’ expectations: freedom, security, inclusivity, education, healthcare, jobs, and dignity. “When leaders fail to meet these basic needs, people become disillusioned. Where democracy fails, desperation can open the door to authoritarianism. We must commit to a democracy that guarantees a great future for our children where their voices matter,” Jonathan stressed.
Ghanaian President John Mahama emphasized that democracy cannot endure unless Africans actively defend and strengthen it. “Democracy will not survive if we don’t work for it. We need a reset of democracy and governance to ensure accountability. Anybody who wants to serve must be accountable to the people. Our citizens are tired of corruption, misgovernance, and lack of opportunities,” Mahama said.
Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, who chaired the Dialogue, declared that democracy as currently practised in Africa is unsustainable. “If democracy must not die and be buried, it has to be reformed in content, context, and practice. The way it is currently practised will kill democracy. All the essentials are being bastardised, and democracy has failed the people. As practised now, it is government of some people over all the people,” he warned.
President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, added that democracy must go beyond elections to include accountability and results. “For many, democracy is all about elections, but that is a narrow view. Democracy is about accountability, discipline, and results. Unless accountability governs the relationship between citizens and governments, unless results drive public engagement, we will continue to sit on gold mines and oil wells but wallow in poverty,” he said.
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Keynote speaker, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, urged African leaders to show patriotism through conduct and commitment to democratic norms. “Politics should not become a do-or-die affair or a ticket to self-enrichment. Institutions such as the judiciary and electoral bodies must inspire confidence. Leaders must rise above being seen merely as champions of their ethnic or religious groups,” he noted.
The Democracy Dialogue ended with a united call for African leaders, institutions, and citizens to embrace accountability, strengthen institutions, and reform governance so that democracy delivers real development and prosperity.
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