The former Vice President of Ghana, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has stated that a notable threat to democracy in Africa currently, is leaders’ failure to provide the “Next Meal” to the ordinary citizen.
Speaking on the topic “Strengthening Nigeria’s Democracy: Pathway To Good Governance And Political Integrity” in Nigeria on Monday, January 27, 2025, Dr Bawumia emphasised that the fundamental value of democracy is not in the process of electing leaders but in ensuring that citizens’ needs, especially their basic survival, are met.
Citing the late Nelson Mandela, one of Africa’s greatest leaders, Dr Bawumia stated, “As long as poverty, injustice, and gross inequality exist in our world, none of us can truly rest.”
The former Vice President highlighted the continuing relevance of Mandela’s words, stressing that true democracy must work towards ending these persistent societal ills.
His speech underscored the fact that, for democracy to be meaningful, it must deliver tangible benefits such as access to essential public goods and services, opportunities for economic advancement, and a fair society for all citizens.
“For Nigeria, and indeed much of Sub-Saharan Africa, our work is cut out for us. We need to take decisive actions to demonstrate that to govern is to advance the interest and welfare of the people. We need to reconfigure our economic systems, processes, and institutions in a manner that prioritizes the next meal for majority of our people. For far too long, the focus has been on ticking the boxes on democratic institutions much to the neglect of what those institutions have been able to produce for the ordinary citizen.
He stressed that, “The person who is unable to afford the next ‘Eba’ meal is unlikely to appreciate any data on democratic progress. Ladies and gentlemen, there is growing apprehension among the citizenry about the relevance and usefulness of government institutions, with many people losing faith in these institutions.”
He went on to highlight the dire situation in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the World Bank estimated that two-thirds of the global population living in extreme poverty resides.
Such figures, he said, should motivate African leaders to act decisively, as failure to address poverty poses a threat not only to the economy but also to the very foundation of democracy.
“When the priority is the next meal, democracy becomes a secondary concern,” he stated. His comments served as a call for African leaders to address the root causes of poverty in order to preserve democratic values and social stability.
He stated that the best democracy is one that delivers on its promises to the people, where individuals do not have to worry about survival before engaging in democratic processes.
“Only when people are assured of their basic needs can they fully embrace the values of democracy,” he concluded.
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The post Any person unable to afford ‘Eba’ meal is unlikely to appreciate data on democracy – Bawumia tells Nigerian leaders first appeared on 3News.
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