Kratos Institue Webinar: The Role of Youth in Keeping Leaders Accountable in Ghana: Insights from Kwame Nimoh

Kwame Nimoh’s recent webinar on the role of youth in holding leaders accountable in Ghana offered a critical and thought-provoking analysis of leadership dynamics across the African continent, with a specific focus on Ghana’s political landscape. Nimoh explored the issue of leadership longevity in Africa, the need for sustained accountability, and the role of the youth in shaping a more responsible and transparent political environment. His insights not only highlighted the political shortcomings in many African nations but also emphasized the potential for Ghana’s youth to lead the charge in fostering more effective governance. 

The Leadership Challenge in Africa:

Nimoh began by pointing to a disturbing trend seen across much of Africa—leaders who remain in power for decades, often at the expense of national progress. Countries like Gabon, Togo, Eswatini, Uganda, and Rwanda have seen their leaders extend their rule through various mechanisms, including constitutional changes and the suppression of political opposition. In many of these cases, the absence of effective accountability mechanisms has allowed these leaders to consolidate power, despite their governments often failing to deliver on key developmental goals.  

Nimoh argued that these prolonged regimes are, in large part, the result of a lack of political will to challenge entrenched leadership. In these countries, leaders often stay in power by crashing opposition and dissent which hinders national development. 

Ghana’s Unique Political Trajectory

Turning to Ghana, Nimoh acknowledged that while the country has largely avoided the authoritarian pitfalls seen in many other African nations, it still faces significant challenges in terms of governance and development. Ghana has been widely praised for its democratic credentials, especially since the reintroduction of multiparty democracy in 1992. Ghana has witnessed peaceful transitions of power through elections, which stands in stark contrast to many of its neighbours and other countries across the African continent.

However, Kwame pointed out that despite these successes in political transitions, Ghana’s economic development has not kept pace with its democratic progress. While Ghana has not had to contend with leaders attempting to change the constitution to extend their time in office, the country’s political system still faces a number of issues that hinder true progress. 

Nimoh used the example of Malaysia and Singapore—countries with similar conditions like Ghana at the time of independence to underscore the point that Ghana’s democratic successes have not been matched by equally impressive economic performance. Malaysia and Singapore, he observed, were able to rapidly transform their economies after independence through strong leadership, sustained focus on development, and a clear vision for the future. In comparison, Ghana’s development trajectory has been slower and less predictable. 

 

The Role of Youth in Accountability

One of the central themes of Nimoh’s webinar was the importance of the youth in holding leaders accountable. He stressed that the youth are not just passive participants in the political process but can and should be active agents of change. According to Nimoh, the youth of Ghana have a vital role to play in ensuring that political leaders remain accountable to the people. This can be achieved through sustained, focused, and non-partisan forms of contentious politics. 

Nimoh was clear in his assertion that the youth must not allow themselves to be co-opted by partisan political factions. While political parties play an important role in the democratic process, they often create divisions that prevent the youth from acting in the best interest of the nation as a whole. Nimoh argued that the youth should transcend partisanship and instead engage in a collective effort to hold leaders accountable regardless of their party affiliation. This means demanding transparency, good governance, and a focus on long-term development rather than short-term political gain. 

Breaking the Two-Party System

Nimoh also discussed Ghana’s political system, which has largely been dominated by two main parties since the return to multiparty democracy: the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC). While both parties have contributed to Ghana’s political stability, Nimoh warned that the dominance of these two parties can sometimes stifle true democratic choice and limit the emergence of new ideas. 

He proposed that one of the ways in which the youth could strengthen Ghana’s democracy and ensure better leadership was by challenging the entrenched two-party system. According to Nimoh, the citizens of Ghana must actively seek to break the dominance of the NPP and NDC by supporting third parties. This would not only offer the electorate more political choices but would also create an environment in which political leaders, regardless of their party affiliation, would be forced to remain accountable to the people. A more diverse political landscape could potentially lead to a more competitive and transparent political environment, where leadership is held to higher standards of performance.

Recommendations for Action

 

In light of these challenges, Nimoh provided several recommendations for how the youth can contribute to better governance in Ghana:

  1. Engage in Non-Partisan Politics: Youth activism should not be confined to political party lines. The youth must focus on issues that transcend partisanship and rally behind the principles of good governance, transparency, and accountability. Non-partisan activism can provide the space for constructive criticism of all political actors, ensuring that leaders are kept in check.

 

  1. Promote Political Diversity: The youth must push for political pluralism in Ghana by supporting third-party movements and candidates. This could help to break the stranglehold of the NPP and NDC and introduce fresh perspectives into the political discourse.
  2. Demand Economic Accountability: The youth should hold the government accountable not only for political freedom but also for economic progress. The failure to transform Ghana’s economy despite its democratic gains is a key area where youth involvement can make a difference. By advocating for policies that focus on sustainable economic development, the youth can push for more effective governance.
  3. Strengthen Civic Engagement: Beyond voting, youth involvement in politics must include participation in policy discussions, community organizing, and national debates. The youth must be empowered to hold leaders accountable at all levels—local, regional, and national.
  4. Utilize Digital Platforms: With the increasing influence of digital technologies, the youth must use social media and other digital platforms to promote political activism, raise awareness about accountability issues, and mobilize action. These platforms can help the youth to connect across regions, organize protests, and generate public pressure on government officials.

Conclusion

Kwame Nimoh’s insights highlight a critical issue in Ghana’s political development: while the country has made impressive strides in democratic governance, there is still much to be done in terms of economic development and political accountability. The youth have a unique opportunity to influence the course of the nation by holding leaders accountable, pushing for political diversity, and advocating for the economic transformation of the country. By embracing non-partisan activism and championing transparency, the youth of Ghana can ensure that the country’s political system is more responsive to the needs of the people and that the leaders are held to a higher standard of governance. This will not only contribute to better political outcomes but also create a more prosperous future for Ghana.