Accra, Ghana – In a powerful and thought-provoking keynote address delivered at the Accra International Conference Centre, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese and founder of The Kukah Centre, Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, challenged African leaders, scholars, and citizens to move beyond pessimism about democracy’s future and focus instead on how to make it thrive. Speaking on the theme “Why Democracies Die” at a high-level dialogue of policymakers, Bishop Kukah argued that Africa’s democratic journey, though fraught with challenges, is far from over. “Democracy is not dead,” he declared, “and we must resist the temptation to perform funeral rites for it. Rather than asking why democracies die, we should ask how democracies survive.”
Questioning the premise
Kukah began by interrogating the pessimistic framing of the conference theme. Using vivid analogies, he likened democracy to music with diverse genres, asking: “Which democracy are we talking about — the American, African, or Chinese variant?” He stressed that democratic practice varies widely across cultures and nations and that Africa should not judge itself solely by Western liberal democratic models such as multipartyism or term limits. He took aim at what he called the “patronising self-righteousness” of Western leaders, citing former U.S. President Barack Obama’s famous 2009 Accra speech declaring that “Africa needs strong institutions, not strong men.” Kukah challenged the assumption that strong men and strong institutions are mutually exclusive, suggesting instead that history shows strong institutions are often built by strong leaders.
Lessons from history
Kukah reminded participants of Africa’s painful democratic history marked by military coups, authoritarian regimes, and ethnic rivalries. “Years of military brutality and bloodshed fractured the democratic ecosystem,” he said, “destroying the foundations of our human rights culture, our free media, and effective institutions.” But despite these setbacks, he described Africa’s march towards democracy as “unstoppable,” pointing to Nigeria’s seven successive elections since 1999 as a sign of resilience. “Our people no longer call for the military after flawed elections,” he observed, stressing that this represents a major shift in political consciousness.
A call for nurturing democracy
Kukah urged Africans to water and nurture the seeds of democracy rather than lament its shortcomings. “Democracy is a labour of love, a dream that one generation must pass to the next,” he said. He called for revitalis-ng civic space through free speech, a free press, and an active civil society as safeguards against authoritarianism. Quoting Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen, he reminded the audience that a free media is one of democracy’s strongest protections: “A free media is a guarantee that people will not die of hunger because democracy should be another name for development.”
Democracy as human instinct
Kukah rejected the idea that democracy could truly “die,” describing it instead as an enduring human instinct rooted in the universal thirst for justice, fairness, and community. “Politicians, constitutions, and parliaments can be destroyed,” he said, “but the human quest for justice cannot die.” He likened democracy to a garden that must be tended to bear fruit. Left unattended, it loses its appeal and becomes vulnerable to demagogues who exploit ethnicity, religion, and ideology to destabilize society. Citizens’ role and moral responsibility The Archbishop placed significant responsibility on both political elites and citizens. He urged leaders to ensure transparent elections and level playing fields to build public trust. He equally encouraged citizens to manage frustration peacefully, insisting that “the solution to a bad election is another election.” “Politics is for the living,” he warned, “and no one should lose their life cheaply over elections.”
Hope over pessimism
Concluding on an optimistic note, Kukah urged Africa not to succumb to despair but to view democracy as a process of constant learning. “Democracy, like the air we breathe, may be polluted, fractured, or challenged, but it will not die,” he said. “Our task is to make it work better for the next generation.”
