By Kwame Bediako
President John Mahama officially opened the 13th African Union (AU) High-Level Dialogue on Democracy, Human Rights, Governance, Peace and Security on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at the Accra International Conference Centre.
The event brought together leaders, experts, and civil society representatives from across the continent to discuss urgent challenges and strategies to advance democratic governance in Africa.
In his opening address, President Mahama called for more than just rhetoric, urging participants to commit to meaningful action.
“Let this not be another declaration left on paper. Let it be a living mandate for action. I urge this dialogue to take a firm stand on the need for legally binding frameworks across all member states to safeguard our civic space,” he emphasised.
He highlighted the importance of stronger legal protections for civic freedoms, including the rights to organise, protest, and participate in governance.
“We must protect the right to organise, to protest and participate. We must preserve the freedom of the press, the voices of the youth and our women, and marginalised groups must be heard and protected. Democracy cannot thrive in the presence of fear or repression,” President Mahama stated.
He also stressed that the legitimacy of governments rests on their inclusivity.
“The legitimacy of our governments depends on the inclusion of all our people. Governments must exist for all our people and not just a few. Equally important is the need to prioritise political education as a pillar of state building,” he added.
Reflecting on the growing trend of civic disengagement across Africa, Mahama noted:
“Widespread civic disengagement is not simply a matter of apathy. It is often the result of exclusion, mistrust, and systemic failure,” he said, calling on governments and stakeholders to address these root causes to strengthen democratic participation and governance throughout the continent.
