President Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has noted that despite the strides Ghana has made over the years in its democratic journey, the nation has a lot more to learn in accepting opposing views.
As one of the core tenets of democracy, expressing differing opinions is one of the pillars that cannot be relegated in defining a good democracy, and the President believes Ghana has more to learn in that field to ensure the system of governance the people have accepted is appreciated.
Speaking at the 67th Independence parade in Koforidua, the Eastern regional capital Wednesday, March 06, 2024, President Akufo-Addo noted that Ghana has learnt through the hard way, considering where the nation is coming from.
Despite not having a perfect system, the President believes there has always been an improvement in exercising one of the major pillars of democracy –elections –over the years.
“All the defining elements of a democracy, that are part of our governance architecture today, we have had to fabricate ourselves. Everything we know about elections today, and we know quite a bit, we have learnt through hard practice, and, in the past thirty-one (31) years, we have been stable. We have not got a perfect system, but, every time we have had elections during this 4th Republic, it has been an improvement on the previous occasion,” he noted.
The President continued that “we still have a lot more to learn especially when it comes to the tolerance of opposing views. But we also know that we dare not relapse, as there are many examples of countries that have disintegrated into chaos as a result of disputed elections.”
During his speech, the President acknowledged the contribution of technology in building a democracy, but highlighted on its negative sides which can be used to subvert the choice of the people.
“We know that technology is a useful tool that we must embrace to make the electoral process more transparent, but we are very much aware that technology also now makes it possible and easier for the deliberate manipulation and propagation of falsehood to influence public opinion. When it comes to free speech and a vigorous media as indicators of a working democracy, I believe we can say we are doing well,” he expressed.
The President further lauded how the nation has prioritised the courts in settling its electoral disputes over the period, rather than using other channels that would have foiled its hard earned democratic goodwill.
“There is no danger of dissenting voices not being heard on any subject, even though we still have more work to do on elevating the quality of public discourse. We take our disputes to the courts for resolution, and the judicial system operates within agreed and acceptable rules.
“When we look around our neighbourhood, we might be tempted to think that our work is done, but we, Ghanaians, have never been known to settle for mediocrity. We aim for the best in every field. We should compare ourselves with the best that there is, and not settle for anything less. For as long as there is poverty and injustice anywhere in Ghana, our work is not done,” he added.
