Jonathan: leaders who cannot perform must be voted

Former president Goodluck Jonathan warned that democracy in Africa risks collapse unless electoral processes are reformed to stop the manipulation that maintains underlying leaders in power.

Jonathan, speaking to the dialogue on the Democracy of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF) held in Accra, in Ghana, have said that leaders they cannot deliver should be voted, if only the elections were free, right and credible.

“Democracy in Africa is going through a period of tension and the collapse of the risks unless the interested parties meet to rethink and reform it,” said Jonathan.

“If we had adequate elections, a leader who cannot perform would have been voted. But in our case, people manipulate the system to perpetuate even when citizens refuse them.”

The former president described the electoral fraud and manipulation as the greatest democratic threat of Africa, underlining that unless the trust in the vote is restored, citizens can lose confidence in democracy and turn to authoritarianism.

Jonathan added that democracy must guarantee freedom, inclusiveness and basic needs such as security, education, work and health care, or people would remain disillusioned.

He also encouraged the participation of young people in politics, but he noticed that they need the wisdom and tutoring of expert leaders to be successful.

Also at the event, the president of Ghana John Dramani Mahama asked for urgent reforms to make democracy deliver to peace, responsibility and development.

“Democracy will not survive if we do not work for this. Our citizens are tired of corruption, government error and lack of opportunities,” said Mahama.

“We must protect the press and the civil space because a free press is the immune system of democracy”.

The former president OlusEgun Obasanjo, who chaired the session, described the current democratic model of Africa as “unsustainable”, underlining that urgent reforms are needed to prevent further declines.

The dialogue, frequented by the main regional leaders including the president of the Ecowas Commission Dr. Omar Touray and Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, stressed that democracy in Africa must go beyond the elections to embrace responsibility, service and discipline.

The dialogue on 2025 democracy closed with an invitation to African leaders to protect institutions, respect the choices of citizens and guarantee governance that guarantees dignity and opportunities for everyone.

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