Former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has called for a renewed commitment to good governance across Africa, emphasising that the continent’s future depends on strong institutions, accountable leadership and bold reforms.
Addressing the graduating class of Course 33 at the National Defence College of Nigeria, in Abuja, on Monday, the former Ghanaian leader underscored the urgency of strengthening governance systems to meet the needs of African citizens.
“Africa’s future will not be built by chance. It will be built by strong institutions and bold leadership,” Akufo-Addo declared in a keynote speech that was both a critique of current governance challenges and a passionate call to action.
Nana Akufo-Addo thanked the Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Commandant of the College, Rear Admiral James Ohimai Okuson for the invitation, calling it a symbol of the enduring partnership between Ghana and Nigeria — two nations he described as torchbearers of democracy in West Africa and the African Union.
Reflecting on over 60 years of African independence, Akufo-Addo lamented that despite some progress, the continent continues to suffer from weak institutions, corruption, political instability, and poor public services.
“Our people crave and deserve good governance,” he stated, quoting the late Ghanaian diplomat and former UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, who once said: “Good governance is perhaps the single most important factor in eradicating poverty and promoting development.”
Nana Akufo-Addo indicated the significant gains made in countries like Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, Botswana, Morocco and Kenya, noting institutional reforms, democratic consolidation, and improved transparency mechanisms.
Ghana, he said, stands as a model of democratic transition, having experienced peaceful power alternations through free and fair elections.
However, he warned that recent setbacks across the Sahel, Sudan and parts of North Africa, as reported in the 2024 Mo Ibrahim Index of African Governance, should serve as a sobering reminder of how fragile progress can be.
The former president stressed that governance failures are not abstract issues, but daily realities for millions of Africans.
“When institutions are broken, systems are broken and when systems are broken, countries must wake up,” he said.
He cited low adult literacy rates, a failing healthcare sector, and the alarming emigration of over 65,000 African-trained health professionals to other countries as evidence of a systemic governance crisis.
Executive Overreach and Judicial Weakness Undermine Democracy
Nana Akufo-Addo decried executive overreach in many African states, where leaders manipulate constitutions and restrict civil society, undermining democratic norms.
“Some leaders change constitutions to stay in office, intimidate opposition, censor the media, and restrict civic space — all of which erode public trust in democratic institutions,” he said.
He further criticised weak legislatures and compromised judiciaries, citing political interference, underfunding and low public confidence in courts across much of the continent.
Despite constitutional guarantees of judicial independence, he noted that over 60% of African nations still score poorly in this area, according to governance indexes.
The Way Forward: African-Led Reform
Calling for an African-led path to reform, Akufo-Addo advocated for measures including genuine separation of powers and independent oversight institutions, adoption of modern technology to combat corruption, and civic education to instil democratic values.
The other suggestions are strengthened regional cooperation through the AU and ECOWAS and domestic revenue mobilization and reduced donor dependency
He urged the use of digital tools like blockchain and open contracting platforms to increase efficiency and transparency, and called for citizen-led watchdogs and empowered audit agencies to hold leaders accountable.
Turning to the new graduates, Nana Akufo-Addo offered a stirring call to duty: “You are not just soldiers; you are guardians of peace, defenders of the constitution and symbols of integrity.
“The world will test you, the political order may entice you, but serve with courage, humility and let your example inspire those who follow.”
The former president reaffirmed his belief that Africa’s destiny lies in the hands of Africans themselves.
“This is more than reform; it is a shift toward self-defined, all-encompassing governance”, he noted.
