President John Dramani Mahama has called for deeper democratic governance, greater citizen participation, and a development model rooted in Ghana’s own capacities and institutions.
Speaking at the 4th Annual Convening of the Ghana Civil Society Forum, the President looked back on Ghana’s progress since the start of the Fourth Republic, pointing to peaceful transfers of power, stronger institutions, a vibrant media landscape, and growing citizen engagement as gains that must be protected and built upon.
He stressed that genuine democracy is measured by more than elections alone. According to him, it is reflected in whether citizens feel heard, institutions remain accountable, policies respond to the everyday needs of ordinary people, and development reaches communities across the country.
The President also urged a rethink of Africa’s development approach, calling for greater emphasis on domestic capacity, innovation, enterprise, and national ownership in financing and driving growth.
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While acknowledging the continued support of development partners, he maintained that Ghana must build a more resilient, self-sustaining model that depends less on external support.
He linked this vision directly to his administration’s ongoing reforms, citing prudent economic management, improved revenue mobilisation, economic diversification, export promotion, and strategic investment attraction as key pillars of that agenda.
President Mahama commended civil society organisations for their long-standing contribution to Ghana’s democratic journey, describing them as key advocates for human rights, transparency, accountability, and inclusive development. He noted that many of the country’s democratic achievements have come through the constructive engagement of civic actors, and reaffirmed his commitment to continued collaboration with civil society in driving national development forward.