“Retaliation is one of the biggest banes of our development in African democracy” – George Akom
George Akom has asserted that retaliation, not incompetence or lack of resources, is one of the biggest obstacles to democratic development across the continent.
Speaking on Kessben Maakye with KOD, Akom was referring to a troubling pattern seen in many African democracies, new governments punishing former administrations, not through legitimate justice mechanisms, but via vindictive policies, dismissals, and targeted audits.
This tit-for-tat style of governance, he argued, does more harm than good.
According to Akom, this culture of retaliation undermines national development in several ways:
Public servants are often replaced, not based on competence, but on political affiliation, disrupting continuity.
Leaders focus on survival rather than service, constantly watching their backs instead of solving problems.
George Akom called for a new level of political maturity, where democracy is seen not as a war of succession but as a relay race of leadership, with each government building upon the work of the last for the good of the people.
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