ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, is calling on West Africans to take a leading role in protecting democratic governance across the region. He argues that citizens must remain vigilant and demand accountability to prevent electoral fraud and unconstitutional power grabs.

Musah noted that ECOWAS can only act forcefully when the public is actively engaged, informed, and ready to hold leaders to democratic standards. Without strong civic pressure, he warned, institutions become more vulnerable to manipulation.

He also lamented the decline in peer accountability among African leaders, saying many now avoid challenging their counterparts even when democratic norms are being undermined. This, he stressed, weakens regional efforts to deter anti-democratic actions.

To reverse the trend, Musah called for a new generation of bold and principled leaders—both in politics and civil society—who are willing to speak truth to power and stand firm when democracy is at risk.