By Etse SIKANKU (Prof)
The Centre for Alternative Politics & Security West Africa (CAPS-WA) marked its inaugural event with a highly engaging webinar titled “Beyond Ghana’s 2024 Elections: Business as Usual or A New Path Towards People-Centered Politics?”.
The virtual event, which was organised in partnership with the State Capacity and Citizenship Building Centre (SCCB-Africa) and Own The Peace Africa (OTPA) on Friday, November 22, 2024, drew nearly 50 participants from diverse sectors of Ghanaian society and beyond, including policymakers, academics, civil society actors, and others.
Professor Kwesi Aning, the Founding Director of the Faculty of Academic Affairs at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, graced the program and officially launched CAPS-WA during his special address. Prof. Aning emphasised the critical need for alternative approaches to governance and security in Ghana and West Africa.
He highlighted CAPS-WA’s role in bridging research, policy, and practice and called for sustained efforts to promote people-centred governance that prioritises citizens’ welfare over political expediency.
Highlights from the Panel Discussions
The webinar featured a panel of distinguished speakers who provided rare insights into governance, accountability, and democracy in Ghana:
Ms. Mavis Zupork Dome, Senior Research Analyst and National Investigator for the Afrobarometer Surveys at CDD-Ghana, presented on “The Voice of the Ghanaian People: Perspectives from the Recent Afrobarometer Report.” She shared critical findings revealing citizen dissatisfaction with governance and called for leaders to prioritise inclusivity and responsiveness.
Mr. Benjamin Offei-Addo, a seasoned finance expert and media practitioner, spoke on “Empowering Citizens to Hold Leaders Accountable in Ghana: Now and the Future.” Mr Offei-Addp underscored the importance of civic literacy, media transparency, and citizen engagement to strengthen political accountability and governance.
Mrs. Mary Awelana Addah, Executive Director of the Ghana Integrity Initiative, who addressed “Fighting Corruption and Strengthening Accountability in Ghana’s Post-Election Democracy,” outlined systemic reforms needed to combat corruption and stressed the role of civil society in holding governments accountable.
On his part, Dr. Muhammad Dan Suleiman, Founder of CAPS-WA, took the opportunity to share the centre’s philosophy and highlighted how gloomy the future looks, looking back at the last two decades.
However, he insisted that the only way forward is to bring down the structures that prevent the youth, women and people at the fringes of society from having a meaningful impact on governance. To this end, Dr Dan Suleiman described CAPS-WA’s mission to advance alternative security frameworks rooted in sustainability, human dignity, and local wisdom.
He called for collaborative efforts to address governance challenges in Ghana and the broader region through increased evidence-based civic education, good governance advocacy for good governance and responsible global engagement.
Audience Engagement and Closing Remarks
The interactive session, moderated by Prof. Abena Animwaa Yeboah-Banin, saw participants actively engaging with the panellists, raising critical questions on governance reforms, youth participation, and the role of civil society in shaping Ghana’s democratic trajectory.
In her closing remarks, Ms Beatrice Baiden, the Founder of Own The Peace Africa, thanked the participants and speakers for their invaluable contributions. She reiterated CAPS-WA, SCCB-Africa and her outfit’s commitment to partnership and fostering innovative solutions to governance and security challenges across Africa. The event was attended by the co-founder of SCCB-Africa, Dr Mohammed Ibrahim.
CAPS-WA and partners call on the people of Ghana, the media and all stakeholders in the country’s upcoming elections to uphold the principles of peace and a high sense of civic responsibility to ensure violence-free elections come December 7, 2024.
About CAPS-WA
The Centre for Alternative Politics & Security West Africa (CAPS-WA) is dedicated to advancing sustainable, people-centred approaches to governance, security, and development in the region. CAPS-WA’s launch during the event signals the beginning of a transformative journey toward reshaping policy and practice in West Africa.
