Africa is safer under democracies—President Akufo-Addo

Accra, March 15, GNA – President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo described the coup’s resurgence in Africa as a set-off for the continent’s development and stressed the need to address it for rapid socio-economic progress. Gave.

“The return of the coup in Africa in all its forms and manifestations must be condemned by all because it undermines our collective effort to rid the continent of instability and the threat of unconstitutional changes in governments,” he said.

Speaking in Accra at the opening of the three-day African Union Reflection Forum on Unconstitutional Changes of Governments in Africa, President Akufo-Addo said the rate of coups and the manipulation of the constitution by current governments were very disturbing.

He said it took a long time to reach a consensus on the democratic form of governance on the continent and added that it should be preserved.

“There are people who crave authoritarian individual rule because they claim that Africa is underdeveloped and democracy is cumbersome and we need to act quickly… I want shortcuts, and there are those who have no regard for the free choice of our sovereign people…”

“We still have to do some work to convince such people that we are all safe under democracy,” he emphasized.

The Forum will examine the resurgence of political instability in Africa, and accelerate strategies to strengthen constitutionalism and the rule of law to ensure peace and stability across the continent.

The Forum will result in the AU Extraordinary Summit, which is scheduled to take place in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea from 27 May 2022, and is projected to propose strategies and materials for the drafting of an additional protocol to the African Charter on Democracy. Elections and Governance.

Citing a report by the African Center for Strategic Studies, the president said that around 24 African countries have either amended, abolished or opposed attempts to set constitutional term limits.

He stressed that this development threatens the continent’s democratic progress.

“In the vast majority of situations where incumbents do not respect term limits, they have argued that the basis for hanging on to power is in response to popular pressure by their people to remain in office, and that the extent of their term is in poor underdeveloped societies. There is no sense where the upliftment of citizens is the top priority.

“Others also believe that leaders should remain in office if they continue to win elections; however, electoral processes have been used in Africa to serve the term limit extension or removal, which Often affected by allegations of widespread irregularities, the ruling parties usually enforce this route to enjoy most, if not all, of the total control over the levers of the government and the electoral machinery.

“As a result, the African people have paid a heavy price for leaders’ efforts to circumvent the limits of constitutional terms,” ​​he said.

As the current chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State, the president said “I have directly witnessed the devastating effects of the coup and attempted coup on the region.”

Unconstitutional regime change, he insisted, should not be ignored, and called for collective action and adequate deterrent measures on the part of stakeholders, to send a clear message to the coup d’état and others who remained in power Those violations “never have been committed.” And there will never be a permanent solution to Africa’s political, economic and security challenges.”

“Only statements condemning the coup without this action, however, will achieve little or nothing in recent times … Collective agreements, effective deterrence, bold action and, equally important, adequate deterrents to this problem.” measures are needed.

“Prosperity comes from a stable period of constitutional government and wise management of the economy… I believe in the immense potential of Africa’s greatness. I believe that stable democracy in Africa can harness the energy of the African people for the transformation of the continent. can help motivate.

“This could be the century of Africa, we can claim it if we have faith in ourselves and our people,” he said.

African Union Commission President Moussa Faki Mahamat, in a speech read out on his behalf, also said that the resurgence of unconstitutional changes of government in Africa was a matter of grave concern to the continent’s leadership and people.

He called on the continent’s leadership to re-commit to the ideals of democracy, good governance and the rule of law for progress.

The Forum is expected to produce a comprehensive document that will take into account gaps and issues not covered in current African Union instruments and policy actions on unconstitutional changes of government.

Participants include AU Peace and Security Council members, representatives of AU member states, relevant AU organs/institutions, security practitioners; Civil society, African think tanks, academia, youth and women’s groups and professional organizations.