In a startling revelation, Afrobarometer’s flagship report on Democratic Trends in Africa has unveiled a growing disillusionment with democratic governance among the continent’s youth.
Surveying 39 countries across Africa, including Ghana, the report highlighted a concerning trend, indicating that the majority of young people in Africa are dissatisfied with democracy and increasingly view military rule as a viable, albeit temporary, solution to the failures of civilian leaders.
Boniface Dulani, Director of Surveys at Afrobarometer, shared these findings during the report’s launch, expressing deep concern over the youth’s disillusionment with democratic governance.
“Most of the youth have never experienced military rule, so they might be looking at it as something to try because democracy is failing. But if you’ve lived through a military regime, you might know that as bad as democracy is, it’s certainly better than that kind of government”.
Boniface Dulani, the Director of Surveys at Afrobarometer,
Mr Dulani further expressed deep concern over the increasing inclination towards military rule among the youth.
He pointed out that the Afrobarometer report identifies several key factors contributing to the youth’s dissatisfaction with democracy, which include rampant unemployment, pervasive corruption, and a glaring lack of accountability among leaders.
These issues, he argued resonate deeply with young Africans, who see their futures jeopardized by a system that seems unresponsive to their needs and aspirations.
Military Intervention Becoming Alternative
Furthermore, the Director of Surveys at Afrobarometer, Boniface Dulani indicated that the report shows that about 53% of Africans believe that if governments are failing or abusing office, the military should intervene.
This sentiment, he noted, however, is coupled with a simultaneous rejection of military rule by a large number of respondent.
Mr Dulani contended that while the revelation from the report endorses military rule as being looked at as an option when civilian governments have failed, it is mostly seen as a temporary solution, not a permanent one.
The Call to Action
Boniface Dulani, the Director of Surveys at Afrobarometer, in a fervent call to action, urged governments to take the concerns of their citizens seriously and address them with urgency.
“Governments should never take people for granted because although there was excitement for democracy in the 1990s, what we’re seeing now is that people are not happy with democracy and asking themselves questions of what democracy is really offering to them and trying to find other alternatives”.
Boniface Dulani, the Director of Surveys at Afrobarometer,
The findings of the Afrobarometer report resonate strongly with earlier sentiments expressed by leading academics, civil society organizations (CSOs), and good governance advocates in Ghana.
The growing distrust among Ghanaians towards their democracy has been a recurring theme in public discourse.
Prominent figures such as Professor Ransford Van Gyampo, a political scientist at the University of Ghana, have consistently voiced concerns about the erosion of democratic values and the failure of political leaders to address the needs of the people.
Professor Gyampo, along with other advocates like Dr. Kwame Asiedu Sarpong and Mawuse Oliver Barker-Vormawor, have highlighted issues such as unemployment, corruption, and lack of accountability as key factors contributing to the growing disenchantment in the country’s democratic governance.
Mr Dulani’s fervent call to action is particularly pertinent for the Ghanaian government, which must address the growing distrust among its citizens to restore faith in the country’s democratic governance.
Measures to tackle unemployment, curb corruption, and ensure greater accountability are essential to rebuilding the public’s trust in democracy.
The Afrobarometer report serves as a critical wake-up call for African leaders, particularly the Ghanaian government to address the root causes of dissatisfaction and work towards a more inclusive, transparent, and accountable governance framework
By heeding the insights and recommendations of the report and engaging constructively with civil society and young people, Ghana can reaffirm its commitment to democracy and ensure a more stable and prosperous future for its citizens.
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