President John Dramani Mahama has warned that democracy cannot endure without delivering meaningful development to citizens.
Speaking at the Democracy Dialogue 2025 in Accra, he stressed that strong institutions must work alongside social and economic progress to safeguard democratic governance.
“We must deliver development, because democracy without development, democracy without roads, democracy without schools, hospitals and jobs will always be at risk,” he said, highlighting the need for functional institutions, independent courts, and accountable leadership.
President Mahama identified five main threats to democracy: weak institutions, corruption and elite capture, inequality and exclusion, leadership deficits, and external pressures.
Drawing on global history, he cited examples from Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Africa to illustrate how democracies can collapse without economic growth and citizen empowerment.
On Ghana, he acknowledged the country’s recognition as a democratic model since 1992, but cautioned that challenges such as youth unemployment, political monetization, and misinformation continue to test the system. He also emphasized the role of education, ethical leadership, and a free press in sustaining democratic values.
President Mahama concluded by urging participants to see the dialogue as an opportunity to renew commitment to democracy.
He said, “Let this dialogue in Accra be remembered not as a lament for dying democracies, but as a rebirth of hope… If the roots of our democracy are deep, there is no need to fear unconstitutional governance.”
