Risk, Resilience, and Governance Expert David Zekpah emphasizes that democracy’s foundation is the collective trust in the system and its leaders to act responsibly.
“When trust in leaders and institutions erodes, systemic risk emerges, leading to potential chaos and negative repercussions for society and its institutions”.
Mr. Zekpah was reacting to the latest Afrobarometer survey, which shows a significant decline in public trust in three crucial Ghanaian institutions: the Electoral Commission (EC), the Judiciary, and the Ghana Police Service.
The data from 1999 to 2022 reveals a sharp drop in public confidence:
- Trust in the EC has fallen from 75% in 2005 to 33% in 2022.
- Confidence in the Judiciary has decreased from 62% in 2005 to 36% in 2022.
- Trust in the Police has plummeted from 64% in 2005 to 28% in 2022.
This decline in trust is alarming, especially with the upcoming elections on December 7, 2024.
Mr. Zekpah asserts that the loss of trust in these institutions threatens the credibility of the elections and poses a risk to democracy.
He further stressed that, when people lose faith in the system, they resort to self-defense and justice, leading to chaos.
The erosion of trust, according to Mr. Zekpah, stems from repeated actions by these institutions that are perceived as unjust and disrespectful to the public.
He therefore calls for a systemic change, requiring effective leadership and a commitment to restoring trust.
He advocates for:
- A Chief Justice who can sanitize the Judiciary.
- An EC that acts impartially.
- A Police Service that takes its role seriously.
He believes that consistent and genuine actions, not just positive rhetoric, are needed to rebuild public trust.
He concludes that, the nation needs leaders who will demand accountability from these institutions, thereby restoring confidence and trust among the general public.
He expresses concern over the current state of these institutions and the critical role they play in defining democracy.
Godfred Sey/ Ahotoronline .com
