Agongo believes Africa needs the right institutions for democracy to work well on the continent
Businessman and philanthropist Seidu Agongo has expressed concern about the failings of democracy in Africa, citing deeply flawed systems that allow impunity and corruption to thrive.
Speaking on the Master of the Game show with Kwasi Kyei Darkwa on CTV, Mr Agongo expressed concern over the structural weaknesses in African democracies.
Though careful not to reject democracy, he highlighted its ineffectiveness in the African context, pointing to institutional failures that continue to rob citizens of justice and accountability.
“I don’t want to say I don’t support democracy for Ghanaians to come at me,” Mr Agongo stated, noting: “But the structure of democracy is not working well in Africa because our systems are not right.”
He referenced rampant abuse of power by government officials, who often exploit state institutions for personal gain without facing consequences.
Referring to a case in Ghana where a government appointee siphoned state funds through an agency that belongs to him, Mr Agongo remarked: “You can’t do this in America, you can’t do this in China, not even in Russia under Putin. But in Ghana, this happens,” he lamented.
According to Mr Agongo, the judicial system in Ghana, a supposed pillar of democracy, has become entangled in political partisanship, slowing justice and transforming serious matters into partisan battles between the NDC and NPP. “By the time you know, it becomes a foolish case and the Ghanaian suffers,” he added.
Drawing from his own experiences when he was prosecuted under the Akufo-Addo administration for nearly eight years in connection with the supply of fertiliser to the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Mr Agongo underscored the importance of personal integrity and accountability.
“If I’ve done something against the state which has cost the majority of Ghanaians, let me face the consequences,” he said. “But if I have not done anything wrong, the Good Lord will exonerate me.”
He also warned about the fleeting nature of ill-gotten wealth, noting that history is full of powerful families who have fallen into obscurity. “Go to Labone, all those buildings they are pulling down… their fathers were once big men. Now where are they?”
In Mr Agongo’s view, democracy is a system that must be built with stronger institutions, effective oversight, and a culture of accountability.
“The earlier we take actions to reflect some of these circumstances, the better,” he noted, urging leaders and citizens alike to demand more from their democratic systems.
