Jonathan Foundation to Host High-Level Democracy Dialogue in Accra

The Goodluck Jonathan Foundation will host its 2025 Democracy Dialogue in Accra on September 17, bringing together prominent African leaders and global development experts.

Distinguished guests expected at the event include Ghanaian President John Mahama, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Kukah, and Kadré Ouédraogo, former Prime Minister of Burkina Faso and ex-President of the ECOWAS Commission. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, the current President of the ECOWAS Commission, is also slated to attend.

Themed “Why Democracies Die,” the dialogue aims to examine the progress, challenges, and prospects of democratic governance in West Africa. Obasanjo will chair the event, while Bishop Kukah will deliver the keynote address.

Since its inception in 2021, the annual dialogue has served as a platform to interrogate democratic governance in Africa, assessing its sustainability and impact on citizens’ lives. Last year’s edition focused on purposeful education, with Prof. Olubayi Olubayi highlighting the need for merit-based institutions and elite research universities to drive technological growth across the continent.

This year’s dialogue is expected to provide fresh insights into curbing the gradual erosion of democratic norms and institutions in Africa, with panel discussions and contributions from leading policymakers and scholars.