President John Dramani Mahama has urged African governments to establish legally binding frameworks to safeguard press freedom and protect the civic rights of marginalised groups.
The Ghanaian leader emphasised that democracy cannot flourish under fear and repression, hence the need for African leaders to protect civic rights, particularly those of marginalised groups.
He made this call at the 13th High-Level Dialogue on Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance in Africa, held on Tuesday, July 29, 2025.
Mr. Mahama stressed that inclusive governance and civic protection are crucial to building legitimate and resilient states. The dialogue was themed “Justice, Right, Reparation, and State Building.”
President Mahama encouraged participants to take concrete steps beyond rhetoric and adopt enforceable mechanisms across member states to safeguard fundamental freedoms, emphasising the need to protect the right to organise, protest, and participate as foundational principles of any democracy.
“I urge this dialogue to take a firm stand on the need for legally binding frameworks across all member states to safeguard our civic space. We must protect the freedom of the press. The voices of the youth, women, and marginalised groups must be heard and protected.
“Democracy cannot thrive in the presence of fear and repression. The legitimacy of our governments depends on the inclusion of all our people. Government must exist for all our people, not just a privileged few,” he concluded.
Attending the meeting were political leaders, governance institutions, and civil society representatives to discuss structural solutions to Africa’s democratic and human rights challenges.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
