Extension of Presidential Term Limits Puts Africa Democracy in Danger-Prez Akufo-Addo
Ghana’s President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has called on the membership of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) Parliament to speak against the extension of presidential term limits by some leaders of Africa to strengthen their grip on power.
According to the President, “These actions tend to result in discontent amongst the populace, which create fertile grounds on which military interventions disingenuously feed.”
President Akufo-Addo made the call at the opening ceremony 2nd Ecowas Parliamentary High-level Seminar on Friday, September 29, 2023, at Winneba, in the Central Region.
The weeklong seminar was under the theme, “Challenges Relating to Unconstitutional Changes of Government and Presidential Term Limits in West Africa – Role of the ECOWAS Parliament.”
He charged the ECOWAS Parliamentarians to ensure that we don’t “give up when it comes to guaranteeing the democratic integrity of our respective countries, where we should have governance systems based on the separation of powers, which are free from corruption and are respectful of the rule of law, individual liberties, human rights, the principles of democratic accountability and social justice.”
While acknowledging the gains made over the years as a sub-regional body, President Akuffo-Addo tasked the ECOWAS Legislators to “propose measures to ensure the anchoring of democratic and republican values, both at the level of political elites and citizens of the Community. This would help towards preserving the peace and stability of the region.”
“Any attempt at the manipulation of opinion and of the rules of the democratic game for partisan political ends always leads to a loss of legitimacy, which is reflected in the social tensions it creates.”
“The attempted confiscation of democracy by elites, who engage, through legal antics, in the manipulation of constitutional rules and the subjugation of the institutions of the Republic with the sole aim of remaining in power,” the President ADDED.
In his considered view, democracy is not as some would have us believe a Western concept, but, rather, a universal concept of general application, hence the need for the ECOWAS Parliament to ensure that there is “no backsliding in support for democratic values anchored on the promotion of the rule of law and respect for human rights. And when the coups do happen, we must insist on the shortest period of the transition process, especially in the Sahel, where the military, having tasted power, appear reluctant to restore democratic rule.”
“The history of the world, including that of Africa, testifies that the process of electing and installing leaders in democratic circumstances provides the best form of governance. The great British wartime leader, Winston Spencer Churchill, it was who said “Democracy is the worst form of governance, except for all the others”.
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President Akufo-Addo noted that tyranny, oppression, and totalitarian government do not last long and that no matter how people apparently reject democracy and civil liberty, circumstances would always force them back to embrace them,” he added.
He therefore urged ECOWAS leaders not to give up when it comes to guaranteeing the democratic integrity of our respective countries, saying, “We should have governance systems based on the separation of powers, which are free from corruption, and are respectful of the rule of law, individual liberties, human rights, the principles of democratic accountability and social justice.”
Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Rt. Hon. Dr. Sidie Mohamed Tunis expressed the need for harmony and vigilance against undemocratic regime changes which continue to impede good governance in the sub-region.
He condemned the recent military interventions in parts of the ECOWAS enclave, which he noted has deteriorated the democratic governance in West Africa.
Dr. Sidie Tunis attributed the trends of military coups to attempts by some Africa leaders to amend presidential term limits in order to prolong their tenure in political office with impunity.
Leader of Ghana’s Delegation to ECOWAS Parliament, Hon Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, called on leaders of the sub-regional bloc to stand firm in unity against the frequent military interventions in the continent.
He said despite the economic challenges facing the continent following the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia, military interventions are not the alternative.
Source: expressnewsghana.com
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