John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and former President of Ghana, has called on African leaders to confront the mounting challenges threatening democratic governance across the continent.

Speaking at the Nigerian Bar Association’s 64th Annual General Conference in Lagos, Mahama emphasized the urgent need for action, citing concerning trends from a recent Afrobarometer survey.

Mahama highlighted Ghana's struggles, noting a growing disillusionment with democracy, particularly among the youth. The survey revealed that a significant portion of Ghana's population, especially young people, are losing faith in democratic institutions and increasingly view military rule as a temporary solution to the perceived failures of civilian leadership.

In his keynote address, Mahama shared alarming statistics from the survey: "An overwhelming 83% of Ghanaians believe the country is heading in the wrong direction. Additionally, 85% rate the country’s economy as bad, and 72% describe their personal living conditions as fairly bad to bad."

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He further noted the erosion of trust in key democratic institutions, with "55% of Ghanaians saying they have lost trust in our Parliament, 53% in the presidency, and 77% believing the government is not doing enough to fight corruption." He also pointed out that 22% of Ghanaians now agree that the country might be better off under military rule.

Mahama stressed that these figures reflect a significant decline in trust in democracy in Ghana, a country once considered a beacon of democratic stability in Africa. "These findings are a wake-up call for all of us," he said, urging African leaders to take decisive action to restore faith in democratic governance and address the complex issues threatening progress on the continent.

Mahama's speech serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing democratic governance in Africa, as leaders grapple with the task of rebuilding trust and ensuring that democracy remains a viable and effective system of government.