ECOWAS Special Envoy on Terrorism, Ambassador Baba Kamara, has warned that poverty and corruption are the “silent killers” weakening Africa’s democratic development.
Speaking through a representative at the 2025 Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF) Democracy Dialogue in Accra, Kamara argued that democracy cannot flourish in societies where citizens go hungry, remain unemployed, or feel betrayed by corrupt leadership.
“Democracy cannot thrive on empty stomachs. While citizens struggle daily for survival, the blatant looting of public resources by a few corrodes trust in government and fuels disillusionment,” he cautioned.
The envoy noted that growing socioeconomic inequality creates fertile ground for political instability, often pushing disillusioned youth towards military takeovers or authoritarian populism. He said the widening gap between leaders and citizens undermines faith in democratic systems.
Kamara also stressed that the fight against corruption must move beyond rhetoric to concrete reforms. He warned that when influential figures evade accountability while petty offenders are punished harshly, public trust erodes. “Citizens lose faith in the fairness of the system,” he said, urging African leaders to strengthen accountability and ensure resources benefit ordinary people rather than political elites.
He concluded that Africa’s democratic survival will not be secured by elections alone but by ensuring that citizens feel heard, their rights protected, and their livelihoods improved.
The GJF Democracy Dialogue, hosted by former Nigerian President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, gathered policymakers, civil society groups, and democracy advocates under the theme: “Why Democracies Die.”
