By: Ashiadey Dotse
President John Dramani Mahama has warned that corruption, inequality, and weak institutions remain some of the biggest threats to the survival of democracy in Ghana and across the world.
He explained that democracy is not self-sustaining but must be defended daily by both leaders and citizens. He identified weak institutions, corruption, inequality, and leadership deficits as the four key reasons why democracies fail.
Speaking at the 2025 Democracy Dialogue in Accra on Wednesday 17, 2025, the President said corruption and elite capture have eroded public trust in governance, while exclusion and inequality continue to sideline young people and other sections of society.
“People are tired of corruption, misgovernance, and lack of opportunity. If democracy does not deliver development – schools, hospitals, jobs, and roads – it will always be at risk,” President Mahama stressed.
President Mahama called for stronger independent institutions such as courts, parliaments, and electoral bodies to safeguard democratic governance. He also urged leaders to be accountable, ethical, and responsive to the needs of the people.
He further described the free press as “democracy’s immune system” and stressed the need to protect civic space and fight misinformation. “Democracy dies when citizens lose faith, when leaders abandon integrity, and when institutions succumb to capture. But it can be renewed when citizens rise to defend it,” he said.
Ghana, according to him, remains committed to upholding democracy not only within its borders but also across West Africa, working with ECOWAS to promote peace and constitutional governance.
