Participants advocate strengthening democracy in W/Africa
Participants at a forum on democracy in the West Africa sub region, called on experts and civil society leaders to take urgent action to strengthen democratic governance, and prevent counter rising authoritarianism.
They also highlighted the need to end political instability, economic inequality and security threats.
The discussions that focused on key challenges facing the sub region, took place at the West Africa Democracy Solidarity Network (WADEMOS) Regional meeting, held in Accra yesterday.
The Head of the Democracy and Good Governance Division of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Mr Ebenezer Asiedu, called for the expansion of digital activism, to reach wider audiences and hold governments accountable.
He stressed the role of social media in mobilising support for democracy, and called for the development of digital platforms to increase civic engagement.
Mr Asiedu also urged civil society groups across West Africa to strengthen their collaboration, noting that networks like the Williams Network had grown significantly and could serve as a model for cross-border solidarity.
To ensure a more inclusive and participatory democratic system, Mr Asiedu advocated greater involvement of civil society in decision-making processes among ECOWAS states.
He called for capacity-building programmes to empower pro-democracy activists and initiatives to encourage citizen participation in governance.
Mr Asiedu emphasized the need for economic reforms to promote inclusive growth and strengthen democratic institutions.
According to him, democratic systems were more likely to attract foreign investment, leading to long-term economic benefits for the region.
A representative of the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD)-Ghana and WADEMOS, Mr Kojo Asante, noted that defending democracy required building resilient networks that could prioritise solidarity and mutual support.
He pointed out that ‘civic spaces’ and fundamental human rights were under increasing threat, and urgent measures were needed to protect them.
The director of the CDD in West Africa, Mr Dauda Garuba, emphasized the need for active collaboration among regional institutions and civil society organisations.
He called for open dialogue, knowledge sharing, and joint research to address key regional challenges.
Mr Garuba pointed out that addressing issues about military rule, constitutional instability, poverty, and cross-border crime should be top priorities for democratic actors in the region.
He also stressed the importance of long-term strategic planning, arguing that sustainable solutions must be prioritised over short-term interventions.
Mr Garuba called for investment in research to identify the root causes of regional instability and the development of framework for sustainable development.
He appealed for stronger cross-border cooperation, improved intelligence sharing, and better enforcement mechanisms.
Mr Garuba explained that these would help address economic disparities that contributed to insecurity, and called for policies that promote job creation, social protection, and inclusive economic growth.
He encouraged the use of digital platforms for civic engagement, transparency, and policy discussions.
“Training programmes on digital security and anti-corruption tools will help civil society counter government repression and misinformation,” Mr Garuba said.
BY AGNES OPOKU SARPONG
