Professor Larry Diamond, a renowned American Political Sociologist, emphasized the importance of African countries determining their own models for democratic governance to foster development tailored to their specific needs. He delivered this message during a presentation titled “Democracy Decline in West Africa: Challenges and Path Forward.”
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The program, organized by the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Council on Foreign Relations Ghana, and the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), focused on the theme “Democracy Decline in West Africa: A Conversation with Policy Actors.”
Prof. Diamond stressed that development models should originate from the people and be adapted to the country's circumstances. He cautioned against blindly adopting external models, advocating instead for democratic processes to inform and adapt the chosen model, ensuring responsiveness, accountability, and adherence to the rule of law and human rights.
Highlighting the global vulnerability of liberal democracy, Prof. Diamond expressed concern over the continuous decline of democracy, attributing it to poor governance, corruption, disinformation fueled by social media, and other factors. He emphasized that true democracy must deliver public goods and uphold rights and the rule of law.
Madam Virginia E. Palmer, the United States Ambassador to Ghana, urged West African countries to maintain confidence in democracy despite governance challenges. She warned against the dangers of democracy breakdown and advocated urgent measures to combat disinformation.
Major General Richard Addo Gyane, Commandant of KAIPTC, emphasized the importance of deepening institutional effectiveness, inclusiveness, and robust engagement of multiple stakeholders in holding officials accountable for Africa's political and socioeconomic development.
Prof. Henry Kwasi Prempeh, Executive Director of CDD-Ghana, addressed the resurgence of coups in Africa, emphasizing its significance as a concern for all countries on the continent and its potential impact on socioeconomic development.
