Political Science lecturer at the University of Ghana, Dr. Kwame Asah-Asante, has called on the African Union (AU) and sub-regional bodies to take a stronger stance against leaders who undermine democratic processes on the continent.
His comments come amidst the controversial elections across three African nations this month. In Tanzania, President Samia Suluhu Hassan and her ruling party, the Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM), is maintaining dominance amid reports of opposition suppression. Cameroon’s 92-year-old President Paul Biya secured another term in a disputed election marked by unrest, while Côte d’Ivoire’s President Alassane Ouattara won a fourth term in a poll criticised for excluding major opposition candidates.
Dr. Asah-Asante warned that unless continental and regional institutions act decisively to enforce democratic standards, Africa risks entrenching a culture of impunity and electoral manipulation.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s The Point of View on Wednesday October 29, Dr. Asah-Asante said the AU and regional organisations must ensure African leaders adhere to electoral rules and principles that guarantee free, fair, and credible elections.
“AU has a role to play by making sure that they talk to leaders of Africa so that they go according to those rules and regulations that guide the conduct of elections in Africa,” he said. “The sub-regional bodies must be up and doing and be able to take leaders on and hold their feet to political accountability and respect for the rules of the game.”
Dr. Asah-Asante criticised what he described as the tendency of African leaders to “pamper democratic lunatics” who manipulate electoral systems and disregard democratic norms without consequence.
He stressed that such leniency emboldens leaders to act with impunity, eroding confidence in governance and weakening the continent’s democratic development.
“The third one is the people,” he added, saying “We must be vigilant and put pressure on the government in order to ensure that we establish a system we call our own — a system that provides the dividends of democracy, improvement in our lives, freedom, and liberty.”
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