President John Dramani Mahama has called on African governments to establish legally binding mechanisms to safeguard press freedom and uphold the civic rights of marginalised communities.

He warned that democracy cannot flourish in an atmosphere of fear and repression.

Addressing the 13th High-Level Dialogue on Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance in Africa on Tuesday, July 29, President Mahama emphasised that inclusive governance and the protection of civic rights are essential to building legitimate and resilient states.

The high-level forum, held under the theme “Justice, Right, Reparation, and State Building”, brought together political leaders, governance institutions, and civil society organisations to discuss structural solutions to the continent’s democratic and human rights challenges.

In a forthright address, President Mahama urged participants to move beyond rhetoric and adopt concrete, enforceable mechanisms across African states to protect fundamental freedoms.

He underlined the right to organise, protest, and participate in governance as foundational principles of any democracy.

“I urge this dialogue to take a firm stand on the need for legally binding frameworks across all member states to safeguard our civic space. We must protect the freedom of the press. The voices of the youth, women, and marginalised groups must be heard and protected.

“Democracy cannot thrive in the presence of fear and repression. The legitimacy of our governments depends on the inclusion of all our people. Government must exist for all our people, not just a privileged few,” he stated.