Former Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo has warned that Africa’s progress will remain stalled unless leaders confront deep-rooted governance failures, including corruption, weak institutions, and poor accountability.
Speaking in Abuja at the graduation of Course 33 of Nigeria’s National Defence College, Akufo-Addo argued that the continent already possesses the talent and resources to rise above its challenges but continues to falter because key systems lack transparency and credibility.
He stressed that reforms aimed at strengthening public institutions and holding leaders accountable are essential if Africa is to unlock its potential. “Building institutions that are trusted, independent, and effective is the only way to secure democracy and protect citizens’ rights,” he said.
Akufo-Addo also issued a cautionary note to those in power: silencing opposition, muzzling the press, or curbing civil society, he warned, undermines democracy and erodes the very foundations of governance. For him, genuine leadership is measured not by the ability to dominate but by the courage to allow scrutiny and dissent.
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Expanding on his remarks, the former president pointed to the dangers of concentrating power in the hands of a few and the corrosive effect of unchecked corruption. He noted that when institutions are weak, public trust collapses, creating fertile ground for instability and conflict. The antidote, he argued, lies in systems that encourage transparency, protect individual freedoms, and demand responsibility from those in public office.
Observers at the Abuja event said his words struck a chord at a time when several African nations are grappling with disputed elections, widespread discontent over public services, and growing calls for reform.
Akufo-Addo’s message, ultimately, was less about criticism and more about possibility: a hint that Africa’s promise has not dimmed, but that its fulfilment rests on the willingness of leaders to embrace accountability and resist the temptations of authoritarian shortcuts.