A new report from the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), launched in Accra, has put the spotlight on what it calls “democracy capture” in ten African countries.
The Democracy Capture Index, released this week, categorises South Africa (SA) and Ghana as medium-risk countries, with public institutions in both states showing signs of interference and manipulation. Botswana and Senegal fared better, registering lower levels of capture, while Nigeria, Mozambique, Kenya, Tanzania, Benin, and the Democratic Republic of Congo were found to be facing high to extremely high levels of institutional capture.
The study evaluated 370 public bodies across the continent, looking at how individuals or groups with power have been able to steer state functions for personal or political gain. According to Dr John Osae-Kwapong, a Democracy and Development Fellow at CDD-Ghana, senior officials, ranging from Presidents to heads of agencies, were frequently cited as key drivers of this trend.
"In many cases, the same office bearers entrusted with upholding democracy are the ones undermining it," Osae-Kwapong said. “In Ghana, Mozambique, SA and Tanzania, the data points to top-level leadership as playing a major role in institutional capture.”
SA, still grappling with the aftershocks of the state capture era, found its inclusion in the report to be a stark reminder of unfinished business. Dr SIithembile Mbethe from the Public Affairs Research Institute said the findings reinforce public concerns.
“There’s no doubt the country has made some strides since the worst days of state capture, but the foundations remain shaky,” she said. “This report tells us exactly where the vulnerabilities lie, particularly when it comes to the influence of private interests over public institutions.”
The report identifies policy-making bodies, accountability mechanisms, and implementation agencies as the most at-risk sectors. Alarmingly, it also found that civil society and the media, traditionally seen as watchdogs of democracy, are themselves under threat in several countries.
Beyond highlighting the risks, the Democracy Capture Index urges African governments to take concrete steps. These include reinforcing oversight structures, enacting whistleblower protections, and restoring trust between citizens and public institutions.
--ChannelAfrica-
