Defending Democracy: EESC President Oliver Röpke Addresses African Union ECOSOCC Citizens Forum in Accra

On 18 July, President Oliver Röpke, delivered a keynote speech at the African Union ECOSOCC Citizens Forum. The event focused on democracy and institutional resilience, featuring notable participants like Mr. Khalid Boudali, Presiding Officer of the ECOSOCC, Mr. William Carew, Head of Secretariat ECOSOCC, Ms. Souad Aden-Osman, Executive Director for the Coalition for Dialogue on Africa (CoDA) & AU High Level Panel on IFFs, his Royal Eminence Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, Sultan of Sokoto and H.E. Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa-CDC.

In his address, President Röpke highlighted the pressing challenges that democracies in both Africa and Europe face. He noted that despite the global democratic decline, the desire for democratic governance remains robust among citizens, with two-thirds of Africans and a significant portion of Europeans still favoring democracy over other forms of government. However, satisfaction with the functioning of democracy is waning, eroding trust in democratic institutions. He highlighted the EESC’s approach to fundamental rights and the rule of law, engaging employers and workers to address issues such as fair justice and anti-corruption efforts. The President further stressed the importance of defending democracy globally and supporting resilient civil societies.

Reflecting on the shared priorities between the EESC and the African Union, President Röpke announced the Committee’s opinion on the state of democracy in Africa, emphasizing the role of the EU-Africa partnership and the Samoa Agreement in strengthening democratic values in the region. The EESC is committed to continuing collaboration with the AU ECOSOCC to enhance civil and social dialogue and improve socio-economic conditions, thereby boosting democratic participation. The forum’s discussions are expected to further these goals, fostering a cooperative approach to addressing the common challenges in strengthening democratic institutions in Africa and Europe.