Former Vice President of Ghana, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has raised concerns about the weakening of African democratic institutions, warning that they are gradually becoming endangered.
Speaking at a conference in Nigeria on democracy in Africa, the NPP flagbearer in the just-ended 2024 elections attributed the situation to prioritizing partisan and ethnic interests over competence in appointments to key institutions.
“These institutions that should determine our growth are becoming weak and endangered,” he said. “Several reasons account for this; first, when we place partisan, ethnic, and other interests over and above competence in appointment to these institutions, we are simply creating mere edifices and structures to reward cronies.”
Dr. Bawumia also blamed the weakening of democratic institutions, particularly independent and accountability bodies, on deliberate attempts by some individuals to undermine them, especially when these institutions seek to uphold the law.
“It is sometimes alarming that this bastardization of the institutions are undertaken by people with loud voices, people with technical and professional pedigree and people who know the truth as espoused by the institutions,” Dr. Bawumia said. “For these people, partisan and sectional interests are often packaged as technical and professional opinions, setting the institutions up for public ridicule and disdain.”
His remarks add to ongoing debates about the state of governance in Africa, as many countries face challenges related to institutional independence, accountability, and the rule of law.