At a pivotal gathering in Accra, former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan issued a stark warning, declaring that democracy across Africa is under severe threat and “risks collapse” without urgent, collective reform. Speaking at the 2025 Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Democracy Dialogue, he identified the root of the crisis not in the concept of democracy itself, but in its systemic subversion. “Electoral manipulation remains one of the biggest threats in Africa,” Jonathan stated, arguing that it creates an unaccountable political class that perpetuates its own power against the will of the people, effectively insulating failing leaders from being voted out of office.

The dialogue, which brought together a formidable roster of statesmen including Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama and former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, converged on a central thesis: the current model is unsustainable. President Mahama reinforced the call for a fundamental “reset of democracy and governance to ensure accountability,” asserting that the system must be actively worked for to survive. This sentiment was echoed by Obasanjo, who chaired the event and warned that the continent’s present democratic practices are untenable and require immediate and profound transformation.

Delving deeper into the consequences, Jonathan painted a clear picture of the social contract broken by manipulated elections. He explained that when the electoral system is rigged, leaders are freed from the obligation to deliver on the most basic needs of citizens—access to quality education, healthcare, security, jobs, and dignity. This failure to perform, he argued, is directly enabled by a corrupted political machinery that prioritizes self-preservation over public service, leaving populations disillusioned and impoverished.

A nuanced thread of the discussion focused on the path forward, balancing the urgent energy of the youth with the experience of established leaders. Jonathan specifically encouraged greater youth participation in governance but cautioned that it must be “guided by the experience of older leaders,” suggesting a collaborative intergenerational effort. This call for renewal was framed as part of a larger, essential overhaul that extends beyond mere elections to encompass what Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah described as the core tenets of a functioning democracy: unwavering accountability, tangible service, and discipline.

The consensus from Accra signals a profound moment of introspection for the continent. With influential figures acknowledging that the very foundations of governance are faltering, the dialogue underscores an urgent imperative: African nations must undertake serious electoral and governance reforms to rebuild accountability from the ground up, or risk the further erosion of the democratic ideal.