What the British High Commissioner really said about Ghana's democracy

A recent report by Discover Newspaper suggested that Ghana’s democracy is “under serious threat,” misrepresenting comments made by the British High Commissioner to Ghana, Dr Christian Rogg.

The media outlet interpreted his remarks about global democratic challenges as a warning about Ghana’s political system.

However, a careful review by GhanaWeb of his full interview on JoyNews shows that Dr Rogg consistently praised Ghana’s democratic progress and stability.

When asked about his post praising the country for its continuous progress, stating that “what’s not changed much is the generosity, optimism and democratic spirit of the Ghanaian.”

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Dr Rogg also emphasised the country’s welcoming nature and political resilience.

“So, on the issues around the warm welcome and the early engagements I’ve had, it does feel like Ghana is still a very welcoming country. Amazing hospitality and a real excitement about showing Ghanaian culture and making people connect with it,” he said.

He highlighted that Ghana has maintained stability even as the wider region faces political uncertainty.

“When you look at other countries, certain things that maybe people took for granted around security that have been questioned have been maintained in Ghana. And so, to me, it feels like progress. It feels like some of the things that were maybe fragile have consolidated, including the democratic spirit,” he added.

Dr Rogg also pointed to Ghana’s history of smooth electoral transitions.

“There have been several times when power changed between the two parties. There’s always a spotlight, and sometimes things happened, but they were of a scale that didn’t raise questions over the whole election or the security of citizens. So I think I am optimistic, and I have seen many things that could have gone differently, being protected and maintained,” the High Commissioner explained.

When discussing global democratic trends, he noted that democracy is under pressure in many countries.

“Democracy has been under threat all around the world; some countries that were democratic have now seen coup d’états. Some countries that are still democratic, but their rights have been eroded,” he said.

However, he explicitly distinguished Ghana’s situation from these trends and praised the country’s achievements.

“I don’t think it’s something that should be taken for granted. I think Ghana deserves huge credit for what has been achieved,” Dr Rogg said.

On issues like the Afrobarometer survey and the ongoing constitutional review, Dr Rogg stressed the need for continuous democratic development.

“It’s something to watch very carefully. Yes, it is about maintaining a focus on democratic values, modernising institutions, constitutions, laws so that democracy is functioning well. But then, first and foremost in Ghana, it’s about the people who have been put into office delivering on their aspirations,” he said.

In summary, Dr Rogg did not claim Ghana’s democracy is declining or under threat. His comments were a recognition of global democratic challenges, coupled with praise for Ghana’s progress and a reminder that democracy must be actively nurtured.

Reports suggesting otherwise misrepresent his message and take his global observations out of context.

See the misrepresented quote and full interview below:









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