The Executive Director of the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Professor Henry Kwasi Prempeh, has warned that growing dissatisfaction with democracy across Africa is posing a serious threat to the continent's democratic gains.

Speaking at the opening of the High-Level Regional Convening on the Financialisation of Politics in Africa in Accra on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, Prof Prempeh said recent findings by Afrobarometer point to declining public confidence in democratic governance.

According to him, Afrobarometer's July 2025 flagship report found that more than six in every 10 Africans are dissatisfied with the way democracy is functioning.

"Over 60%, more than six out of 10 Africans, say they are dissatisfied with how democracy works," he said.

Prof Prempeh noted that although most Africans still prefer democracy to military or one-man rule, confidence in the effectiveness of democratic governance is steadily declining.

He said the trend was reflected in the outcome of elections held in Botswana, Mauritius, Ghana and South Africa in 2024, where governing parties lost power following significant drops in citizens' satisfaction with democracy.

"In Ghana, Afrobarometer recorded a 23% decline in voter satisfaction with democracy before the elections," he stated.

While peaceful transfers of power occurred in those countries, he cautioned that similar levels of public dissatisfaction in more fragile democracies could lead to unconstitutional changes of government.

He added that the decline in public confidence is largely driven by feelings of exclusion, weakening trust in public institutions and widespread perceptions of corruption.

"And here is where the financialisation of politics enters the picture," Prof. Prempeh said, linking the growing influence of money in politics to Africa's democratic challenges.

The three-day convening has brought together policymakers, electoral bodies, anti-corruption institutions, civil society organisations and development partners to discuss reforms aimed at promoting transparency and accountability in political financing across Africa.

NA/AM