How democracy destroys itself in Africa

While the rule of law is a major cornerstone of democratic governance, the misuse of the Judiciary by a ruling government tends to be its most potent bane. The propagation and spread of democratic governance in Africa is in many cases limited to deciding a winner at the tribal based to assure control of the legislature, distribution of ministerial and other appointments to party cronies and the award of contracts for individual and party benefit. Perceived political opponents tend to be muscled into silence using the judiciary. Once the decision to put away political opponents is made by the judiciary, it is considered to be democratic and the government is considered to be one that has due regard for the rule of law. This is the milieu of self destruction that Democracy finds itself in most of Africa. Followers of the Tsatsu Tsikata trial in Ghana cannot but be amazed at how this is very much the case in Ghana of all places.

The Tsatsu trial is simply amazing and tells a great deal about the crucial role of the justice delivery system in upholding the rule of law and democracy for that matter in Africa. Democratic governance needs to be sustained and the judiciary has but to play its role in honour not in vice.

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