WADEMOS Convenes Civil Society Leaders to Strengthen Democracy in West Africa

The West Africa Democracy Solidarity Network (WADEMOS) on Tuesday, 4th March 2025 hosted its annual Civil Society Regional Convening at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra, Ghana. The 2025 convening brought together civil society organizations, social movements, and pro-democracy actors to leverage solidarity and defend democracy in West Africa.

The event focused on exploring challenges, lessons learned, and perspectives on enhancing advocacy and activism in the region. It also aimed to deepen WADEMOS’ solidarity initiatives, focusing on regional integration, democracy, and peace and security.

ECOWAS Under Spotlight

Dr. Kojo Pumpuni Asante, Director of Policy Engagement and Partnerships at the Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), emphasized the need for West African citizens to support and strengthen the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). He warned that ECOWAS would suffer if it failed to deliver, citing recent challenges such as the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali from ECOWAS, as well as constitutional breaches in Benin, Togo, and Côte d’Ivoire.

Dr. Asante urged ECOWAS to expedite the formation of an economic and social platform where civil society organizations can contribute directly to the ECOWAS process.

Timely Gathering

Dr. Garuba Dauda, Director of the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD West Africa), chaired the program and noted that the gathering was timely, given the current struggles in the sub-region. He highlighted the rise of Sahel street protests, the breakdown of law and order in some ECOWAS countries, and the ongoing transition within ECOWAS from a state-centric to a people-centric approach.

Dr. Dauda emphasized the crucial role of civil society as a voice for the people, bridging the gap between public spaces and family units.

WADEMOS’ Mission

As a non-partisan, independent civil society-led transnational democracy solidarity network, WADEMOS aims to mobilize, coordinate, and leverage the collective power of pro-democracy actors, opportunities, and resources to engage regional and related bodies to fight against democratic deterioration and advocate for the democratization of West Africa.

The annual convening is a testament to WADEMOS’ commitment to strengthening democracy and solidarity in West Africa.