President John Mahama has warned that democracy cannot survive without development, stressing that a system without jobs, schools, hospitals, and other basic needs will always be at risk.

Speaking at the 2025 Democracy Dialogues organised under the auspices of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, the President urged African leaders to focus on strengthening democratic institutions while ensuring that citizens see the benefits of governance.

“To renew democracy, we must do certain things. The first one is that we must strengthen institutions, independent courts, parliaments, and our electoral bodies. The second is that we must deliver development, because democracy without development, democracy without roads, democracy without schools, hospitals, and jobs will always be at risk,” he said.

He added that education, civic freedom, and a vibrant press are equally important in safeguarding democracy.

“The third, we must educate our citizens. The fourth, we must protect media and civic space. A free press is democracy’s immune system,” he stated.

The president also called for stronger regional cooperation, warning that instability in one country threatens democratic progress across the continent.

“We must also build regional solidarity, because the fall of democracy in one nation weakens democracy in all other nations. As host, Ghana recommits to upholding democracy, not just in rhetoric, but in practice.

"We will defend the independence of our institutions, support free expression, and continue to stand with ECOWAS in promoting democratic governance across West Africa,” he said.

President Mahama cautioned that democracy weakens when leaders lack integrity and when citizens lose confidence in their institutions. However, he encouraged Africans to rise in defence of their freedoms.

“Democracy dies when citizens lose faith, when leaders abandon integrity, and when institutions succumb to capture. But democracy can be renewed when citizens rise to defend it.”

Quoting former Czech President Václav Havel, the President said, “The salvation of this human world lies nowhere else than in the human heart. The survival of democracy depends on us leaders, citizens, and institutions, choosing courage over complacency.”