John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has expressed serious concerns about the disillusionment among Ghana’s youth, attributing it largely to the shortcomings of the country’s democratic system, which he believes contributes to the lack of economic and social opportunities.
During a speech at the 80th-anniversary celebration of the St. Joseph the Worker Anglican Church in Accra, the former President highlighted a growing crisis of confidence among young Ghanaians.
Mahama noted that the economic hardships and political dissatisfaction faced by the youth have led them to feel neglected by the very system that is supposed to support them.
He pointed out that this discontent has even prompted some to call for military intervention as a possible way to stabilize the economy and enhance governance.
While Mahama acknowledged that the people’s suffering has fueled these calls for military action, he made it clear that he does not endorse such a solution.
However, he recognized that these demands for significant change reflect a broader frustration with the diminishing opportunities and the declining hope for a brighter future within the current democratic framework.
In his address, Mahama stressed that Ghana’s democracy, which was once seen as a symbol of hope and development, is now failing to meet the needs of the youth, resulting in a troubling shift in public perception.
He explained that this sentiment is indicative of a larger crisis, where faith in democracy is diminishing, exacerbated by the challenges Ghanaians face in navigating a stagnant economy and a political system they feel does not represent them.
“Our democracy is in crisis. You speak to many of our young people and they say they don’t have any faith in democratic governance anymore. Indeed, some of them even say, I don’t see why the soldiers don’t come and take over and govern the country and it is because our faith in our democracy is going down and down.
“And that is because our democratic practice is not creating enough opportunity for our young people. And so we need a renewal, we need a reset, we need a restart. Our economy is in crisis, that one I don’t need to tell you. And when you see your size of Kenkey shrinking, you know that there is a crisis.”
