Former President John Agyekum Kufour has urged Ghanaians and other citizens of West Africa to demand accountability from their governments.

He says they must use their power to elect good leaders. The comments comes as Ghana goes to the polls in November.

“Make the people aware that independence does not mean chaos, it means being responsible as a citizen,” Mr. Kufour said.  

Giving the keynote address at the launch of the West African Think-Tank Network in Accra, Mr. Kufour also asked governments to be responsible.

Joy News’ Beatrice Adu reports that Mr. Kufour charged citizens to use their power to, “elect government but you do not elect slave masters. You should not put them there for them to turn on you like overlords that govern without accountability.”

According to Kufour, citizens put governments in office to account for them and to work for them because it is their power.

He reiterated that the sovereignty talked of stems from the citizens.

“Put the government there and ensure it governs for the betterment of all the people, not for the party alone. Once you are president you are president for all the people,” ex-president Kufour said.