The state of democracy in West Africa is under scrutiny as citizens increasingly express dissatisfaction with their government’s performance, particularly in addressing socio-economic issues. This dissatisfaction could potentially chip away at the peace citizens have established with democratic systems.
Citizens value the freedoms democracy guarantees and the participatory nature of a democratic government, where they get to vote and decide on their leaders. However, beyond these freedoms, they expect governments to address key socio-economic needs effectively.
Giovanni Carbone noted in 2009 that deeply ingrained democratic values would likely make elites and ordinary citizens resist abandoning participatory politics. Yet, consistently poor results in achieving other goals, like security and economic well-being, might overwhelm the will to stay loyal to the democratic model.
The Afrobarometer Surveys regularly gauge public opinion on government performance in various policy domains. This article focuses on seven: managing the economy, improving the living standards of the poor, creating jobs, enhancing health services, addressing educational needs, providing water and sanitation services, and fighting corruption.
Responses range from very badly to very well, including options for those unsure or uninformed. The most recent survey (2021–2023) reveals widespread dissatisfaction with how governments are addressing critical social and economic needs. There’s a noticeable decline in citizens’ ratings across all policy domains, ranging from seven to twenty-four percentage points.
According to a report by the Daily Graphic, this decline is alarming, especially considering the increased approval of military rule in the region. A previous piece showed a rise in approval from 13% in 1999–2001 to 35% in 2021–2023, suggesting a softening attitude towards military rule.
This shift becomes more concerning when considering citizens’ ratings of government performance. For instance, in the latest survey, those approving military rule rated government job creation, economic management, and improving the living standards of the poor very poorly.
Carbone’s words resonate here: for emerging democracies, legitimacy hinges on at least adequate performance. Without it, people may withdraw support and consider non-democratic alternatives as more effective.
Yet, there is hope. Despite dissatisfaction with democratic governance and a softening stance on military rule, citizens continue to express a strong preference for democracy. This preference underscores the crucial role citizens play in safeguarding democracy against further crises.
The writer, a Democracy and Development Fellow at the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), reiterates the vital role of citizens in the region as key agents in preserving democracy.
