President John Dramani Mahama has stated that protecting democracies in Africa requires more than condemning coups after they happen, adding that conditions that weaken public trust in institutions must be confronted.
Speaking on the President’s behalf at the Third African Union (AU) Reflection Forum on Unconstitutional Changes of Government in Accra last Friday, the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, said governments must address corruption, exclusion, abuse of power, electoral mistrust, insecurity, and failure to improve citizens’ daily lives.
“Protecting democracies requires more than condemning coups after they happen.
We must confront the conditions that weaken confidence in institutions,” he told the two-day forum held on the theme: “Youth Inclusion for African Stability”.
The President said the forum was coming at a critical time when young Africans are demanding accountable leadership, economic opportunities and fairness.
He indicated that with over 60 per cent of Africa’s population under 35 years, the success of democracy would depend on whether this generation believed that governance could improve their lives.
He urged African leaders to create pathways for youth participation in governance, policy, peacebuilding and enterprise, and to “listen not only when they protest, but before they have to protest”.
President Mahama said Ghana remained committed to constitutional rule and would use its role as AU Vice-Chair this year, ahead of assuming the chairmanship in 2027, to promote preventive diplomacy, credible elections and institutional reforms.
The forum was attended by members of the diplomatic corps, civil society, academia and think tanks.
Democracy defenders
At the same forum, the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Bankole Adeoye, called on Africa’s youth to become the “strongest defenders of constitutional democracy” as the continent battled democratic backsliding and insecurity.
He also affirmed the timeliness of the forum, stressing that Africa’s greatest strategic asset was its young population.
“If democracy must endure, it must deliver hope. It must provide opportunities. It must be inclusive,” Mr Adeoye said, adding that the AU was working to increase youth participation in election observation missions to 60 to 70 per cent in 2026.
He said that six AU member states remained suspended due to unconstitutional changes of government, and that restoring order required rebuilding trust between institutions and citizens.
The first Reflection Forum in Accra in 2022 produced the Accra Declaration, which affirmed the AU’s zero-tolerance policy against unconstitutional changes, while the 2024 meeting acknowledged that insecurity, terrorism, governance deficits and exclusion continued to undermine stability.
“From Sahel to Sudan, from Somalia to Madagascar, your generation has the opportunity to become the strongest force for constitutional order, accountable leadership, and peaceful political transition.
Do not surrender your future on the politics of division or the disruption of constitutionalism,” Mr Adeoye told young delegates.
He commended Ghana and President Mahama for their commitment to democracy and youth inclusion.
Youth impact
Also speaking at the event, Uganda’s Permanent Representative to the AU and Chair of the AU Peace and Security Council for July 2026, Rebecca Amuge Otengo, said the youth of
Africa were both the driving force behind instability and the key to solving the continent’s peace and security challenges.
Ms Otengo said over 400 million of Africa’s population, aged 15 to 35, was expected to double to over 840 million by 2050.
“If we properly analyse this, the increase in the working population could support both production and productivity, and also result in inclusive economic growth across this continent,” she added.
