Democracy is not a gift bestowed by institutions, but a practice built by citizens – Prof Prempeh

Speaking at the opening of the High-Level Regional Convening on the Financialization of Politics in Africa being held in Accra today, July 14, 2026, Prof Henry Kwasi Prempeh, the Executive Director of CDD-Ghana made the point that democracy is not a gift fully bestowed by institutions but a practice built by citizens who are genuinely empowered to participate in the decisions that shape their lives.

According to Prof Prempeh, the African Union Advisory Board Against Corruption, the Open Society Foundations, Transparency International, and the Community of Practice on Political Finance in Africa are not merely partners in organising the event, they are co-architects of a reform agenda whose time has come.

Tracing the inception of the CDD-Ghana, he said: “For more than two and a half decades, our mission to promote and deepen democracy, good governance and inclusive development, has driven the organisation to generate the research, analysis, and pursue advocacy to promote electoral integrity, fairness and fight political corruption.