President John Dramani Mahama has argued that democracy must deliver tangible improvements in the lives of citizens and should not be experienced only through periodic elections.
Addressing world leaders at the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Thursday, September 24, 2026, President Mahama said citizens must be able to associate democratic governance with improvements in their daily lives.
According to President Mahama, democracy should be reflected in improved access to food, quality education, decent housing, healthcare and economic opportunities.
“Citizens must experience democracy not only through the ballot box every four years, but through improved access to food, quality education, decent housing, accessible health care, and economic opportunities,” he said.
The President warned against a situation in which democratic systems protect the interests of elites while vulnerable populations remain excluded from the benefits of development.
“Democracy loses its soul when it protects elite privileges while abandoning the vulnerable,” he stated.
President Mahama said Ghana remained committed to constitutional democracy, media freedom, the rule of law and peaceful transitions of power.
He acknowledged that democratic processes can sometimes be slower because they require constitutional procedures, participation and consensus-building.
However, he argued that such processes ultimately provide a more sustainable foundation for national development.
The President linked his argument to the Resetting Ghana agenda, saying his administration is pursuing economic and social programmes intended to make development more meaningful to ordinary citizens.
He cited the government’s infrastructure programme, free primary healthcare initiative, social protection measures and economic transformation agenda as part of efforts to connect governance with tangible improvements in people’s lives.
Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh(#RomeoWrites✍️)/ Presidential Affairs Correspondent | Ghana 🇬🇭
