President John Dramani Mahama has issued a stern caution regarding the escalating threats to judicial independence and democratic institutions worldwide.
Speaking at the opening of the 2026 Judicial Year and the 20th anniversary of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Arusha, the president pointed to a disturbing trend of executive overreach and the systematic curtailment of civil liberties.
President Mahama posited that institutions once regarded as global benchmarks for justice and the rule of law are now in a state of “worrying decline”.
He argued that recent global developments reveal a pattern of strengthening executive power at the expense of legislative authority, a shift that fundamentally undermines democratic governance.
He noted that the tightening of restrictions on the freedoms of speech, assembly, and protest has led to a significant “erosion of public confidence” in leadership.
“Judiciaries are no longer independent… We see executive overreach and a steady weakening of legislative independence,” President Mahama stated.
“Restrictions are being placed on freedom of speech, assembly and protest. There is a general loss of liberties and a sharp decline in public trust in governments,” he said.
Addressing the complexities of the modern era, the president observed that technological advancements have made global crises more interconnected. He cited the rapid, borderless spread of COVID-19 as a primary example of how events in one region can trigger immediate global repercussions.
President Mahama urged African nations to stop measuring their democratic health solely against Western standards. Instead, he maintained that current global instability should serve as a catalyst for countries to fortify their own internal institutions and sovereign frameworks.
“The reality we see today should serve as a clear call to action,” he added.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
