Wa, (UW/R), April 25, GNA – Professor Patrick Loch Otieno Lumumba, a renowned Pan-Africanist, has urged Ghana and Africa to pursue governance systems rooted in indigenous values and traditions, rather than replicating Western democratic models without adaptation.
He said democracy in Africa must reflect local realities, historical experiences and people-centred governance systems, stressing that “Democracy must not be Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola, which we import from Europe and America.”
Prof. Lumumba made the call at a public lecture organised by the University for Business and Integrated Development Studies (UBIDS) in Wa at the weekend on the theme: “The Role of the People in Ghana’s Democracy: Reality or Illusion”.
Scores of people in the region, including traditional leaders, students and leaders of tertiary institutions and members of the public, attended the lecture to either listen to wisdom from the acclaimed intellectual and Pan-Africanist or to catch a glimpse of him.
Prof. Lumumba, also a professor of Law, said Ghana’s democratic journey, though imperfect, had evolved into a model worthy of recognition across Africa.
“So, my fellow Ghanaians, when I look at this democracy, when I look at what is happening in Ghana, today, even the Western countries, when they talk about the indices of democracy, they say that Ghana is an island of peace in a sea of confusion”, he explained.
Prof. Lumumba paid tribute to Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, describing him as a visionary whose ideas on governance, Pan-African unity and people-centred leadership remained relevant in today’s democratic dispensation in Ghana.
He explained that despite Nkrumah’s vision to achieve a united Africa in 1965, he was betrayed in 1966 and overthrown, and all his books and speeches were banned in Ghana.
Prof. Lumumba, however, added that Ghanaians and Africans had realised Nkrumah’s visionary plan for Ghana and Africa and regretted their actions in 1966.
He said Ghana’s political transitions had demonstrated resilience and maturity, particularly through peaceful transfers of power and the strengthening of democratic institutions, despite setbacks.
According to him, democracy in Ghana had grown beyond elections to include respect for traditional authority, vibrant civic participation and accountability and commended successive governments for sustaining democratic governance.
He urged Ghanaians to guard their democracy and hold leaders accountable, as leadership was a trusteeship and not a privilege above scrutiny.
Prof. Lumumba said Ghana’s democratic example should inspire democratic renewal across the African continent.
He observed that democracy on the continent would be strengthened if African states embraced cooperation, self-determination and governance systems responsive to their own histories and aspirations.
Professor Emmanuel K. Derbile, the Vice Chancellor of UBIDS, said the lecture formed part of the university’s commitment to creating platforms for intellectual engagement on governance and development issues in Ghana and across Africa.
He described the lecture as insightful and timely, and that the address highlighted Ghana’s enduring search for a transformative governance system.
He said Prof. Lumumba had underscored the continuing relevance of Nkrumah’s ideals, Ghana’s resilience in democratic development and the need to sustain reforms toward inclusive and sustainable development.
Prof Derbile expressed gratitude to Prof Lumumba and other stakeholders whose efforts had contributed to the success of the lecture and expressed the university’s resolve to sustaining the initiative.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali /Kenneth Odeng Adade