The Vice President, Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, representing His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, joined global leaders in Barcelona for the Fourth Meeting of the “In Defence of Democracy” Summit to address rising threats to democratic stability.
The initiative, which has gained momentum since its 2024 launch at the United Nations General Assembly, serves as an international platform for heads of government and organizations to coordinate against extremism, polarization, and disinformation. During the high-level deliberations, participants focused on the necessity of strengthening multilateral institutions, regulating the impact of digital technologies, and addressing the structural inequalities that often undermine governance.
Addressing the summit, Professor Opoku-Agyemang emphasized that the survival of democracy is intrinsically linked to the fairness of the systems that sustain it. She argued that many developing nations are calling for a comprehensive reconfiguration of the global financial architecture to ensure that financial resources are distributed more equitably.
The Vice President highlighted that current lending conditions frequently burden poorer nations with unsustainable interest rates, which hampers their ability to deliver economic progress to their citizens. She further noted that international trade systems must become more inclusive, moving away from models that serve a select few to those that benefit the broader global community.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang pointed to the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement as a landmark achievement for the continent, designed to integrate markets and boost intra-African trade to mitigate economic vulnerabilities. However, she maintained that these regional efforts require reciprocal progress at the global level through an international financial architecture that is more responsive to the needs of the developing world. In her concluding remarks, she stressed that democracy can only be sustained by institutions that function effectively, economies that deliver tangible results, and a steadfast global commitment to structural fairness and accountability.
Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
