Barcelona: Vice President, Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, represented President John Dramani Mahama at the Fourth Meeting of the In Defence of Democracy Summit in Barcelona. The gathering convened global leaders committed to safeguarding democratic values amid the growing threats of extremism, polarisation, and disinformation worldwide.
According to Ghana Web, the 'In Defence of Democracy' initiative, launched during the 2024 United Nations General Assembly, has since become a significant platform for heads of government and representatives of international organisations to coordinate efforts to defend democracy. The initiative aims to confront the challenges posed by the aforementioned threats and has consistently brought together notable figures in governance to bolster democratic processes.
During the summit, discussions focused on three primary priorities: strengthening institutions and multilateralism, addressing disinformation and the impact of digital technologies, and tackling extremism and inequality. Professor Opoku-Agyemang, in her address, highlighted the urgent need to address structural inequalities and called for reforms in international legal frameworks to better protect women and vulnerable groups. She also stressed the importance of strengthening governance, accountability, and oversight in the digital arena.
In her remarks, Professor Opoku-Agyemang underscored the necessity of defending democracy by reinforcing the systems that sustain it. She advocated for comprehensive reforms to the international development system and a reconfiguration of the global financial architecture to ensure equitable distribution of financial resources. She argued that lending conditions should not disproportionately burden poorer nations and that trade systems must serve the interests of all countries rather than a select few.
Highlighting Africa's advancements, she pointed to the establishment and operationalisation of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement. This agreement aims to integrate markets, enhance competitiveness, boost intra-African trade, and foster prosperity with global partners.