Democracy must deliver dignity and independence, not just regular elections – Ras Mubarak

Former Ghanaian MP Ras Mubarak questioned Africa’s democratic systems. He stated that democracy should deliver dignity, sovereignty, and socio-economic progress.

Mubarak spoke at Ibn Haldun University in Istanbul during Africa Union Day. He addressed students and academics in a packed auditorium. He criticized cosmetic democracy without self-determination as a betrayal of Africa’s liberation struggle.

“Democracy matters,” he said. “But real democracy must be rooted in dignity and independence.” He emphasized that it should reflect the will of the people, not foreign validation.

His comments come as African democracies face scrutiny for failing to create change. Mubarak urged African youth abroad to challenge political structures. “Don’t settle for voting for stooges,” he warned. “If you don’t lead, others will mislead.”

He highlighted Burkina Faso’s Captain Ibrahim Traoré as a controversial figure. Traoré symbolizes a new awakening in Africa, despite not being democratically elected. “He confronts decades of failed democracy that delivered no dignity,” Mubarak noted.

Mubarak praised Burkina Faso's government for reclaiming gold resources and expelling foreign troops. He described this movement as clarity and rebirth, not instability or rebellion.

He condemned external influences on African policies. Foreign powers often undermine regional cooperation and development, he argued. “Our leaders are beholden to foreign interests,” he said.

Using the example of the ECOWAS single currency, Eco, Mubarak criticized the lack of political will. “I was a teenager when that conversation began,” he remarked about its slow progress.

He called current intra-African relations a farce due to restrictive visa regimes and trade systems favoring former colonial powers. “It’s unacceptable that flights within Africa cost more than those to Europe,” he stated.

Mubarak advocated for stronger alliances with countries like China and Brazil. He urged Africans to stop seeking validation from Western nations and look towards equitable partners instead.

“It’s time to unlearn colonial conditioning,” he said about rediscovering indigenous knowledge and culture. He emphasized that Western superiority is brainwashing from which we must break free.

As his speech concluded, Mubarak called for unity against pressing challenges like unemployment and climate change. He stressed the need for consensus among African political players.

“We will fail if we spend half our time campaigning and fighting each other,” he warned. The youth prioritize opportunity over party affiliations.

In closing, he expressed solidarity with Palestine while condemning Israel's actions harshly. “Africans who suffered oppression should understand Palestinian struggles,” he asserted.

Mubarak invoked Ghana’s founding father Kwame Nkrumah: “Ghana's independence is meaningless without total liberation for Africa.”

He encouraged African students to become authors of history rather than mere witnesses: “There is hope if we embody leaders like Traoré, Nkrumah, Lumumba, and Acheampong.”