Security analyst, Adib Saani has expressed deep concern over what he describes as a global and regional decline in democratic governance, following reports of an attempted coup in Benin.
Speaking in an interview with Abena Mante on ABC in the Morning, Mr. Saani said recent events across the world show a worrying erosion of democratic values.
“Well, the issue is, and the interesting thing is, all across the world, democracy appears to be on the decline,” he stated. According to him, discussions with international diplomats reveal that even long-established democracies are struggling to uphold their own standards.
“I have met Western diplomats; we have discussed the issue of democracy, and they have been very honest with me. They were like, even in many of these Western countries, democracy is on the decline,” he disclosed.
Mr. Saani noted that the situation in West Africa reflects the same troubling pattern, with attempted coups, military interventions, and institutional weaknesses contributing to democratic backsliding across the sub-region.
However, he pointed to what he described as an “interesting twist” in the global trend. “Democracy is making gains in some few countries, which is inconsistent with the global average,” he explained, highlighting that pockets of progress still exist despite widespread decline.
He emphasized that Ghana is one of the countries that has demonstrated remarkable resilience in sustaining democratic governance. “We have come a long way as a country. A lot of things have happened, and a lot of changes have happened. We have solidified and consolidated the democracy,” he noted.
Mr. Saani believes that if other African nations had adopted Ghana’s democratic practices and institutional reforms, many of the coups currently destabilizing the region could have been avoided. “If other African countries were able to learn from us, a lot of these coups would have been prevented,” he stressed.
He further expressed hope that Ghana’s model will continue to serve as an example for neighbouring states. “I wish a lot of countries within, especially our sub-continent, are able to learn from our model,” he urged.
His remarks add to the growing calls for stronger democratic safeguards as West Africa faces increasing governance and security threats.
