2026 GAAS PUBLIC FORUM

Introduction

The Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS) Public Forum is one of the flagship programmes of the Academy (GAAS), convened to promote informed, evidence-based dialogue on issues of national importance. The 2026 edition, held from 1st–3rd June 2026 at the Academy’s Secretariat in Accra, focused on the theme, “Citizens and Democratic Consolidation in Ghana: Rights, Obligations and Duties.”

Organized against the backdrop of Ghana’s continued democratic journey, the forum examined the vital role of citizens in sustaining and strengthening democratic governance. Through three sub-themed sessions: “The Imperatives of Citizenship in Sustaining and Consolidating Ghana’s Democracy,” “The Citizen as Sovereign in a Democracy: Rights, Obligations and Responsibilities,” and “Complicity of Citizen (In)Action in Democratic Reversals: Lessons for Ghana,” the forum brought together governance experts, policymakers, academics, civil society leaders, students and members of the public to reflect on the responsibilities of citizenship and the collective effort required to safeguard Ghana’s democratic gains.

Day 1- Subtheme:  The Imperatives of Citizenship in Sustaining and Consolidating Ghana’s Democracy

The 2026 Public Forum opened with remarks by the President of the Academy and Chairperson for Day One, Emerita Prof. Isabella Akyinbah Quakyi (FGA), who underscored the importance of active citizenship in sustaining and consolidating Ghana’s democracy. She observed that democracy is not sustained by elections alone but depends on responsible citizens, accountable institutions, respect for rights and a commitment to civic duties. She urged citizens to move beyond passive observation and participate actively in national development.

Ms. Kathleen Addy, Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), who spoke on the topic “Reflections on a New Social Contract with Citizens in Ghana,” argued that although Ghana’s Fourth Republic has delivered political stability and regular democratic transitions, growing economic hardship, youth unemployment, corruption and declining public trust have weakened the relationship between citizens and the state. She observed that many citizens increasingly feel excluded from economic opportunities and meaningful political participation, creating a gap between constitutional promises and lived realities. Calling for a renewed social contract based on accountability, ethical leadership and inclusive development, she stressed that both the state and citizens have responsibilities in sustaining democracy. She advocated stronger anti-corruption enforcement, greater local participation in governance, the election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), enhanced civic education, and reforms to reduce excessive executive power and strengthen institutional accountability. Ms. Addy also urged policymakers to create greater opportunities for young people through employment creation, digital innovation and inclusive economic development, while emphasizing the need to address the potential impact of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence on future jobs and livelihoods.

Dr. Kofi Takyi Asante, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), University of Ghana, addressed the topic “The Elusive Democratic Dividend: Citizen-State Relations and the Crisis of Political Legitimacy in Ghana,” arguing that despite more than three decades of constitutional rule, many Ghanaians are yet to experience the economic and social benefits expected from democracy. Drawing on survey data and research, he highlighted growing public dissatisfaction, declining trust in institutions, and a widening gap between citizens and the state. He called for deep democratization beyond elections, people-centered development, economic transformation, and greater citizen participation to restore political legitimacy and rebuild the social contract.

The session was attended by Fellows of the Academy, policymakers, academics, members of NCCE, members of the general public and students, including participants from University of Ghana, Accra College of Education and Presbyterian Senior High School.

Day 2- Subtheme: The Citizens as Sovereign in a democracy: Rights, Obligations and Responsibilities.

Emerita Professor Takyiwaa Manuh (FGA), Vice President of the Arts Section of GAAS, who chaired the second day’s session, highlighted the concept of citizens as sovereign in a democracy. Referring to the 1992 Constitution, she noted that sovereignty resides in the people of Ghana and that government officials and state institutions exercise power on behalf of citizens and for their welfare.

Mr. George Sarpong, Executive Secretary of the National Media Commission, who spoke on the topic “The Burden of Informed Citizenship in the Digital Age: Media, Disinformation and Democratic Responsibility,” argued that democracy depends on informed citizens who are able to make reasoned judgments and participate meaningfully in public life. Mr. Sarpong warned that disinformation, artificial intelligence, algorithm-driven content and sensationalist media practices are undermining citizens’ ability to distinguish truth from falsehood, thereby weakening democratic accountability. He called for a whole-of-society response, urging educational institutions to cultivate critical reasoning and civic literacy, while universities and research institutions make knowledge more accessible to the public. He also stressed the need to strengthen constitutional institutions such as the National Media Commission and the National Commission for Civic Education to support informed citizenship and safeguard Ghana’s democracy in the digital age.

Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko, Executive Director, STAR-Ghana Foundation, speaking on “Putting Citizens at the Centre of Ghana’s Democracy: The Unfinished Business of Democratization,” argued that Ghana should focus on the unfinished process of democratization rather than assume democratic consolidation has been achieved. He highlighted declining public trust in institutions, weak decentralization, executive dominance, and the marginalization of women, youth, persons with disabilities and citizens in deprived communities. He also pointed to challenges within the media, social media and civil society that affect meaningful citizen engagement and accountability. He called for constitutional reforms, stronger decentralization, enhanced civic education, active citizenship, deeper participation beyond elections, and stronger support for civil society organizations. He concluded that democracy should not only empower governments to govern but should also empower citizens to participate meaningfully in governance and hold leaders accountable. The audience for day 2 included Fellows of the Academy, policymakers, and students from Labone Senior High School and Accra Academy.

Day 3- Subtheme: Complicity of Citizens (In) Action in Democratic Reversals: Lessons for Ghana  

The session opened with a presentation by Mr. Kwaku Antwi-Boasiako, a Governance expert, who addressed the topic, “Democracy without Dividends: Why Citizen Apathy Threatens Ghana’s Democratic Future.” He argued that while Ghana is widely regarded as a model of democratic stability, growing economic hardship, youth unemployment, corruption, and declining trust in public institutions are causing many citizens to become disillusioned with the democratic process. According to him, democracy loses its meaning when citizens do not experience tangible improvements in their lives through quality jobs, public services, infrastructure, and accountable governance. To restore public confidence in Ghana’s democracy, he called for youth unemployment to be treated as a national emergency, with deliberate efforts to align education with industry needs, invest in agribusiness, enterprise and innovation, and prioritize private sector-led job creation. He further advocated stronger anti-corruption efforts through visible accountability, expand digital governance and electronic payment systems to improve transparency, deepen decentralization, institutionalize citizen participation in governance, and ensure that democratic governance delivers visible and measurable improvements in the lives of ordinary citizens. He concluded with a stark warning that “if democracy does not deliver for the ordinary Ghanaian, the ordinary Ghanaian will not defend democracy.”

Mrs. Beauty Emefa Narteh, Executive Director of the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC), delivered a presentation on the topic “From Passive Spectators to Active Citizens: Building a Culture of Accountability in Ghana’s Democracy.” Mrs. Narteh identified three major forms of citizen disengagement that weaken accountability: limited civic participation beyond voting, underutilization of accountability mechanisms such as the Right to Information (RTI) Act, and partisan loyalties that often shield public officials from scrutiny. She argued that these trends enable impunity, weaken democratic oversight, and undermine public confidence in governance. She called for a renewed culture of active citizenship, urging Ghanaians to engage in governance beyond election periods and consistently hold public officials accountable. She advocated the full implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) Act to improve transparency and public access to information, while also stressing the need for strict enforcement of sanctions for procurement and financial irregularities. She further emphasized that strengthening accountability requires coordinated action by citizens, civil society, and state institutions, supported by sustained civic engagement, protection for whistleblowers, and greater public participation in democratic processes. She also underscored the importance of practical civic education to equip citizens with the skills to effectively use accountability tools and called for stronger local-level engagement to ensure that democratic oversight extends beyond national elections and reaches everyday governance. Concluding her presentation, she stressed that democracy cannot survive as a formal structure alone but must be actively practiced by informed and engaged citizens. She maintained that where citizens actively participate in governance, institutions are more likely to respond effectively, whereas silence and disengagement create conditions for impunity to flourish.

The Day 3 was chaired by Prof. Alfred Apau Oteng-Yeboah (FGA), vice president of the science section of the Academy, who noted that the Public Forum reaffirms the Academy’s commitment to contributing to national development by providing evidence-based ideas and policy recommendations on critical national issues. He noted that the Academy would synthesize the insights and recommendations from the forum for the attention of relevant stakeholders. Emphasizing that democratic consolidation requires not only the protection of citizens’ rights but also the fulfilment of their civic responsibilities, he urged Ghanaians to demonstrate greater responsibility in safeguarding public property and contributing positively to national development. He concluded by expressing appreciation to the speakers, participants and audience for their valuable contributions to the discussions.

The forum concluded with the participation of students from Presbyterian Senior High School and Labone Senior High School, who asked insightful questions and contributed meaningfully to an enlightening Q&A session.

Conclusion

The 2026 GAAS Public Forum provided a critical platform for examining the state of Ghana’s democracy and the growing disconnect between democratic governance and citizens’ expectations. Through thought-provoking presentations and robust discussions, the forum highlighted key challenges including youth unemployment, corruption, weak accountability, declining public trust in institutions, and citizen disengagement. Importantly, it advanced practical recommendations aimed at strengthening democratic legitimacy, deepening citizen participation, enhancing transparency and accountability, and ensuring that democracy delivers tangible benefits to all Ghanaians. The Academy remains committed to fostering informed national dialogue and generating evidence-based solutions that contribute to good governance.