West African leaders under the auspices of West African Elders Forum (WAEP) say African leaders should make deliberate efforts to ensure that democracy in the continent is sustained through accountability and strengthening of state institutions in order to reverse the trend of democratic erosion and eliminate the culture of political violence in the region.
The leaders who spoke at an online conversation tagged: “Political Competition as a Trigger for Instability in Africa, ” organized by the West African Elders Forum (an Initiative of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation )in collaboration with the Yale International Leadership Centre noted that Africa must look inward to solve its political problems.
They stated that political competition is a trigger to instability in the continent and urged leaders to be accountable, inclusive and just in order to sustain democracy and maintain peace across nations.
Former President of Sierra Leone Ernest Bai Kiroma who was a panellist in the webinar said :
“I hold the view that as leaders you have to be accountable to your people. Where there is an effective means of holding leaders accountable there is always an opportunity to review their performance without any difficulties but when leaders go into the offices and ignore the promises made to their people, ignore their responsibilities to their people and just do things as they like, then, it causes a lot of problems .
“That is where I think civil society can come in very effectively, and the press should come in very professionally. This has to do with institutional building. Democracy is a building process.
“We have to emphasize on how to build our capacities and the institutions in our countries.
“When you have these institutions behaving professionally, I am sure they will put leaders on their toes and you will have the kind of response that is expected from the leadership .
“Where you need self-restraint from leaders , it will be seen. I think the lack of professionalism wherein leaders are not accountable; where a leader comes and within a short period, people start hero- worshiping him is not helping our democracy, it is not helping in building the democratic processes.” Kiroma Said.
Former Prime Minister of Senegal, Aminata Touré submitted: “that . democratic systems are built from within and I think Africa is democratic compatible . I think Africa can manage its democratic process but there are some pitfalls that we need to address.
“The culture of democracy has to be built. We need to make sure we build the spirit of democracy, educate our citizens so that they know what to do.
“Let’s make sure that democracy blossoms around the continent. I don’t want us to leave with the feeling that it is desperation when it comes to democracy. There may be challenges but we do have great examples across the continent . Let’s work with our youth, let’s be inclusive , let’s be tolerant and let’s be optimistic.”
Jude Ilo, a fellow at the Yale International Leadership Centre who also participated in the discussion in his contribution said :
The greatest asset of Africa is in its people, over the years citizens of Africa understand the call of duty and reversed the trend in their country . They have sat and created amazing changes in their country.
“I have the belief in the power of African citizens to rally and demand for themselves the kind of government and politics they want . And for them to do that we would have to continue that engagement of helping citizens understand the kind of power they have, the values they possess and the potential they can wield to make the country be in their own image and not in the image of the politician that has held them hostage all over these years .