"Let us deepen democracy" -former African leaders say

Kumasi, April 27, GNA - Four former African leaders have stressed the need for the institution of effective and sustainable measures that will help strengthen and deepen democracy on the continent. They said the prevalence of the multi party system in Africa was not synonymous to democracy and called for more proactive measures by ensuring effective popular participation in governance to entrench democracy.

The leaders, which included Mr Festus Gontebanye Mogae, former President of Botswana, Alhaji Ahmed Tejan Kaba, former President of Sierra Leone, Mr Olusegun Obansajo, former President of Nigeria and Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings, former President of Ghana, made the call at an international symposium on "Deepening democracy in Africa" organized in Kumasi on Friday as part of the 10th anniversary celebration of the enstoolment of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, as the Asantehene.

The occasion was also used to launch the "Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Charity Foundation", which aimed at mobilizing financial resources to provide humanitarian services to the needy and vulnerable in society. Mr Festus Mogae said there was the need for African countries to institute appropriate and adequate pension schemes that would entice serving leaders to willingly leave office after serving two terms. He said African countries must also endeavour to institute measures that would persuade serving leaders not to overstay their tenure. Mr Mogae said leaders who served beyond two terms betrayed their vision and mission, and pursued their personal interest at the expense of national interest.

He also stressed the need for African leaders to manage natural resources in a transparent manner to benefit all the people. He said civil society must be involved in the management of natural resources in order to promote justice and equity, which were essential ingredients for deepening democracy on the continent. Mr Olusegun Obansajo, former President of Nigeria, said education, popular participation, elimination of corruption, justice and equity as well as enhancement of choices were some of the basic ingredients for deepening democracy in Africa.

He said democracy was a journey and not a destination, adding that, the aim of democracy was to enhance the welfare of the people and there was the need for people to have choices at all times. Alhaji Ahmed Tejan Kaba, former President of Sierra Leone, said good governance was one of the cardinal principles that ensured the entrenchment of democracy on the continent.

Former President Jerry John Rawlings on his part said, there was the need for African leaders to allow the institution of governance to work effectively without any political interference. He said democracy was about what the people wanted and needed, and not what the rulers wanted, adding that, people should be allowed to exercise their freedoms in order to ensure sustainable democracy in Africa.

Mr Jose Maria Aznar, a former Prime Minister of Spain, lauded Ghana on its efforts at entrenching democracy on the African continent and said foreign investment and trade were essential to economic growth, which is one of the important prerequisites for sustaining democracy. Professor David Abdulai, Dean, the University of South Africa School for Business Leadership, who chaired the function said a new wind of change was blowing across Africa.

He said the mission of present day Africans was to deepen democratic principles to promote speedy development on the continent. He said the development of Africa depended on African themselves and appealed to African politicians to agree to disagree and disagree on violence. 27 April 09