Baba Kamara, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) special envoy on terrorism, says poverty and corruption are the “silent killers” undermining Africa’s democratic growth.
Kamara spoke at the 2025 Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF) democracy dialogue in Accra, Ghana.
The dialogue, hosted by ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, brought together policymakers, civil society actors, and democracy advocates.
The dialogue had as its theme: ‘Why Democracies Die.
The envoy warned that democracy cannot flourish when citizens are hungry, unemployed, or alienated by corrupt leadership.
He said the widening socioeconomic inequality creates fertile ground for instability, leading frustrated youths to lose faith in democratic processes and turn to alternative systems, including military takeovers or authoritarian populism
