Is democracy in Africa Failing?
April 28, 2008
Panelists on JOYfm’s Super Morning Show this morning called on African’s to rise up to defend democracy n the continent.
Nana Asante Bediatuo, legal practitioner and Hannah Tetteh, former NDC MP however did not agree that democracy in Africa was grinding to a halt with recent electoral challenges in Nigeria , Kenya, Zimbabwe as examples.
The two guests agreed that Africa’s democracy was facing difficulties such as selfish leaders reluctant to relinquish power, constitutions with too many loopholes that also grant too much power to President’s and poorly resourced electoral commissions.
Nana Asante Bediatuo questioned why AU and NEPAD had failed to develop continent wide standards for election monitoring to perhaps help individual countries to improve on their electoral practices.
Hannah Tetteh disagreed and submitted that instead, ordinary African’s and civil society groups across the continent must fight for the strengthening of democracy and the rejection of undemocratic tendencies as they show themselves on the continent.
Many listeners who called into the show said they expected the AU and other regional groups to safeguard Africa’s Fragile democracy by being tough on regimes that seem to be undermining the principles of Democracy.
How do you think we can safeguard Africa’s Democracy?
Post your comments here.
Comments
8 Responses to “Is democracy in Africa Failing?”
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Democratic institutions are not working in most of the african countries couple with corrupt leaders who are afraid that should they relinquish power, their bad deeds will be exposed hence their inability to relinquish power,
cameroon as a country has just usurp the mandate of the people by changing the constitution of the country to enable him to perpetuate himself in power.
so i’m not surprise when the current debakle in zimbabwe turns to also usurp the peoples mandate .African leaders must speak loud against what is going on in the th former rhodesia
I listen with a lot of concern so far from your Guest, non of whom seems to acknowledge the fact that the situation in Zimbabwe is not as simple as we think. This lack of competent analyst, who don´t take time to do any research among other factors are the reasons why Democracy is Failing in Africa.
I am saying this as a result of sequential events in our recent history.
1) Where is Charles Taylor?
Who negotiated his exit and who took him over?
2) After the Kenyan elections, which was allegedly rigged by the Government, was America not among the first countries to congratulate the Government?
3) Since when did Mugabe became the Devil that he is now?
a) Who is causing all this suffering of the Zimbabwean people? Is it not Britain unofficial sanctions?
b) Are you people letting our people know that Britain is Sponsoring Tzangaria?
African leaders won´t talk because of the arrogance of the west.
Since when did the US under Secretary for Africa became the Zimbabwean Electoral Commission, announcing election results.
Mugabe will suffer like Taylor if he just step down.
It is time Africans know that we need to take our own destiny into our own hands
Thanks
Abdul- salaam Saeed
Germany
Nshom Ernest Bah, Cameroonian
I very much appreciate the pressure some world leaders are putting on Mugabe. BUT why are the African leaders largely silent?
Anyway no one expects the like of Paul Biya to condemn Mugabe, Birds of the same feather.
Now no one seems to realize that Biya is as terrible if not worse than Mugabe yet he hardly gets the same condemnation.
You hear untenable excuses like African problems to be solved by African yet people are perishing everyday and no one seems to care.
Let me remind that each time that an African dies from the brutality of dictators, it means the world has equally lost a citizen.
African problems indeed..
Hi Kojo,
I followed your panelists closely on their submissions, and I must admit that I was impressed with Mad. Hannah Tetteh’s position. I think the ordinary African and the civil society organization ought to be educated so as to get involved in the fight for true democracy.
Now, my opinion as to whether democracy is falling in Africa may sound pessimistic however, I do not think the liberal democracy inherited from our colonial masters is suitable for the continent. It has always, and will continue to fail us. It is high time we consider social democracy as the best form of governance in Africa.
So long as we cling to liberal democracy we will forever be in this mess; the poor becoming poorer and the rich, richer. Africa should not always stretch it’s hands to the west.
Wish to congratulate all workers for their continous sacrifice towards building a better Ghana.
Long live workers, long live Mother Ghana
well done for a good show t’day. keep it up.
kojo i wish to be contacted and be part of your panel.
do well to reply my mail and let me give you my profie.
thank u.
kojo did u hear the police officer reacting to the media on METRO TV evening NEWZ(5/05/08) on the alledge missing /substituted cocaine in police custody?
the officer was simply confused as if somebody forced him to organise that press briefing.his speach to me implicates him and the the police service of the crime instead. At the end he said the media claiming all the cocaine were substituted was false but only few cartons were exchanged is rather sad.Wether a few cartons or all of it ,isnt it a shame for the police service.
The police service simply needs a massive SHAKE UP and be void of all political affiliations to make them effective law enforcers
Pafii
awoshie-accra