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Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia launches the book on democracy in Accra. Image: GABRIEL AHIABOR
If democracy is growing in Africa, we need to involve more people along the chain, said Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia.
Explaining that democracy derives from the Latin word "demos", which means "self-government," he said, "At the heart of democracy is an inclusive government – people who make decisions about their own well-being."
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Speaking as a special guest at the launch of a book titled: Democracy Works. Recreating Africa's Policy in Accra, Dr. Bawumia said that ultimately, we need to make sure we include everyone in this development process.
"If you develop a country or democratic institutions that are so important; to survive, inclusion must be there and that is why you have to educate people. You must ensure that citizens have the right to information, in order to participate effectively in the democratic process, "he urged.
The book
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In praise of the four authors of the 266-page book, including a former president of Nigeria, General Olusegun Obasanjo, the vice president said the book was very rich and cited many practical lessons on how Africa could take development policy measures. maximize the benefits of democracy.
Some of the participants at the launch
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The other authors are the president of the American Jewish University, Mr. Jeffrey Herbst; Mr. Tendai Biti, former Minister of Finance of Zimbabwe, and Mr. Greg Mills, President of the Brenthurst Foundation.
Mr. Bawumia said the book also challenges the orthodoxy that "democracy alone has what it takes to improve economic progress" and baderted that "democracy is not intended, nor is it engraved in concrete ".
According to his evaluation of the book, he said, there was also "the feeling that if democracy is to be inclusive, to maintain democracy in Africa, we must make sure that we try to make sure that people be more included as we pursue in the spirit of democracy. " .
"Whenever people feel excluded, the survival of democracy is threatened and that is why we must pay attention to education, health, agriculture, financial inclusion , giving identity to the right to information, macroeconomic stability and jobs. These are the kinds of things that will produce more inclusive democratic development, "he said.
Democratic dividends
General Obasanjo, for his part, said "there must always be dividends of democracy for all citizens of a country, regardless of their position, affiliation, tribe or religion."
In claiming to appreciate the American definition of democracy as a people's government, by the people and for the people, he noted that while democracy was the first recognized system of governance for most African countries, There were not two countries where the democratic system was the same.
He said the book badumes that the economic challenges facing Africa were enormous and required an effective governance system to deal with them.
Best choice
Dr. Mills said the book called for an end to the status quo in terms of development and policy decisions, among others, which is why it is satisfying for Ghana to embark on a journey beyond 39; aid.
General Olusegun Obasanjo, a former President of Nigeria, speaking at the launch of the book in Accra
He explained that Ghana had been chosen for the launch of the book because he had always been considered the flag bearer of Africa, adding that the book illustrated the complexity of the democratic process and the taking of different choices.
According to Dr. Mills, empirical evidence has shown that democracy is the best choice for Africa because it is better equipped to meet the kind of challenges the continent faces today, because it allows a peaceful change of leaders, the production of new ideas, checks and balances, system, civil society and the media, respects human rights and values and reduces vulnerability and economic volatility ".
He warned, however, that democracy did not guarantee success but made it more likely to succeed, adding that an Afro Barometer survey report indicated that about two-thirds of Africans preferred democracy over others. forms of governance.
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