Apostle Dr Samuel Kofi Dadzie, the General Overseer of the Leaders Light International Church, has urged African leaders to strictly adhere to the tenets of democracy, maintain accountability, and cease the abuse of office if they hope to stem the recent surge of military coups across the continent.
Dr Dadzie asserted that many African political leaders campaign on a platform of ambitious promises, only to fail in delivering upon assuming office.
This gap between promise and performance, he argues, often fuels public discontent, which in turn either provokes civilian unrest or provides a pretext for the military to stage a takeover.
He argued that having embraced democratic governance, leaders have a fundamental obligation not to disappoint the populace.
They must ensure transparent and accountable leadership and, critically, create economic opportunities for their citizens. Doing so, he stressed, would make the population less susceptible to manipulation aimed at destabilising the country.
“We must utilise these recent coups as a solemn lesson to remain accountable and resist corruption,” Apostle Dr Dadzie stated. “So long as we subscribe to democracy, we must uphold its principles. Failing to deliver on campaign promises constitutes a profound betrayal to the people. When citizens feel betrayed, they are more easily incited to engage in acts of violence that can destabilise a nation. Leaders have a direct responsibility to foster job creation, and our political class must act responsibly, avoiding the misuse of their official positions.”
Since 2020, the continent has witnessed a disturbing resurgence of successful military interventions, particularly concentrated in the Sahel region.
Countries including Mali, Chad, Guinea, Sudan, Burkina Faso, Niger, Gabon, Madagascar, Guinea-Bissau, and Benin have all experienced transitions via military force.
Apostle Dr Kofi Dadzie emphasised that African leaders must find a comprehensive and lasting solution to this unstable political climate, warning that without decisive action, the phenomenon of military coups will persist. He stressed that the most effective way to prevent the overthrow of civilian governments is through robust job creation for the youth, widespread infrastructural development across all critical sectors, and establishing a genuinely conducive environment that fosters a sense of security and belonging for all citizens.
Turning his focus to Ghana, Dr Dadzie commended President John Dramani Mahama for recent efforts in stabilising the Ghanaian cedi. However, he took the opportunity to issue a reminder regarding the President’s key commitment to create jobs, particularly for the youth and salaried employees, alongside other pledges made during the 2024 campaign.
He underscored the urgent need for the current administration to substantially increase investment in infrastructural projects, citing critical areas such as healthcare facilities, educational institutions, industrial factories, and road networks. Dr Dadzie specifically highlighted the poor condition of roads in several communities, noting that this directly impairs citizens’ livelihoods, and called for immediate government intervention to address the issue.
“I want to commend President Mahama for stabilising the cedi against the dollar,” he concluded. “However, one critical issue I must draw his attention to is the imperative to create jobs. Our youth need employment to thrive. Having demonstrated the capacity to stabilise the currency, he must now apply the same diligence and commitment to ensuring job creation for the people.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
