Former Presidents Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria and Olusegun Obasanjo have united with Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama to issue a powerful call for urgent democratic reforms across Africa.
The leaders spoke at the 2025 Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF) Democracy Dialogue held in Accra, Ghana, where they warned that the continent’s current democratic practice is unsustainable.
The prominent statesmen collectively argued that unless African stakeholders come together to fundamentally rethink and reform democratic systems, democracy itself risks collapse across the continent. They identified electoral manipulation as one of the most significant threats to genuine democracy in Africa.
Former President Jonathan delivered a stark assessment of the situation, stating: “Democracy in Africa continent is going through a period of strain and risk collapse unless stakeholders came together to rethink and reform it. Electoral manipulation remains one of the biggest threats in Africa.”
He elaborated on how flawed electoral systems enable poor leadership to persist, noting: “If we had proper elections, a leader who fails to perform would be voted out. But in our case, people use the system to perpetuate themselves even when the people don’t want them.”
Jonathan emphasized that democracy must deliver tangible benefits to citizens, saying: “Our people want to enjoy their freedoms. They want their votes to count during elections. They want equitable representation and inclusivity. They want good education. Our people want security. They want access to good healthcare. They want jobs. They want dignity. When leaders fail to meet these basic needs, the people become disillusioned.”
Ghana’s President Mahama echoed these concerns, emphasizing that democracy requires active protection. He stated: “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.”
President Mahama outlined essential steps for democratic renewal, saying: “To renew democracy, we must strengthen institutions, deliver development, and educate our citizens. We must protect the media and civic space. A free press is democracy’s immune system. Democracy dies when citizens lose faith, when leaders abandon integrity, and when institutions succumb to capture. But democracy can be renewed when citizens rise to defend it.”
Former President Obasanjo, who chaired the event, provided historical context and urgency to the discussion, declaring that Africa’s current democratic practice is unsustainable and must be reformed immediately. His presence alongside Jonathan and Mahama created a powerful symbol of cross-generational and cross-national unity on the need for democratic improvement.
The dialogue also featured other significant African voices, including the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, and Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Sokoto diocese of the Catholic church. All speakers agreed that democracy in Africa must evolve beyond merely holding elections to encompass genuine accountability, service delivery, and discipline in governance.
The united front presented by these influential leaders at the Accra dialogue represents a significant development in pan-African politics. Their collective voice adds substantial weight to growing calls for comprehensive democratic reforms that address electoral integrity, institutional strengthening, and improved governance outcomes across the continent.
The consensus reached at the meeting underscores a growing recognition among Africa’s political leadership that current democratic systems require fundamental restructuring to better serve African citizens and ensure the long-term sustainability of democratic governance on the continent.
Discussion about this post