Former Unilever executive and public thinker Yaw Nsarkoh has called on Ghanaian intellectuals to rise above silence and apathy and actively safeguard the country’s democratic institutions.
Speaking at a public lecture in Accra, Mr. Nsarkoh warned that Ghana’s democracy is under increasing strain, not only from political actors but also from a growing culture of intellectual disengagement.
He described the current political climate as “fragile,” with rising disinformation, polarisation, and erosion of institutional trust.
“In times like these, silence is not neutrality. It is complicity,” Nsarkoh declared. “Those who possess knowledge and influence must not abandon the public space to populists, opportunists, and extremists.”
He challenged academics, professionals, artists, and civil society leaders to reject the comfort of detachment and use their platforms to defend truth, accountability, and constitutionalism.
Nsarkoh expressed concern over what he described as “a slow but steady drift toward authoritarian norms,” where dissent is discouraged and critical voices are marginalised.
“Democracy is not self-sustaining. It must be nurtured by active citizenship and protected by those with the intellectual clarity to see threats before they mature.”
He noted that while Ghana remains one of the more stable democracies in the region, complacency and elite withdrawal from national discourse could embolden illiberal actors.
Nsarkoh also advocated for a return to values-based leadership, urging thought leaders to frame national development not just in economic terms, but also in ethical and civic dimensions.
“If the powerful are unchallenged and the thinkers are silent, we create a vacuum that will be filled by cynicism, manipulation, or worse.”
Concluding his address, Nsarkoh called on professionals across sectors—from education and law to media and business to recommit to active citizenship. He reminded them that defending democracy is not the task of politicians alone.
“This republic belongs to us all. Democracy must be a verb, something we do, not just something we inherit.”
Source: Myxyzonline.com
