Remarks by K. Y. Amoako at the 4th Annual Kronti ne Akwamu (Democracy and Good Governance) Lecture

The tenth anniversary of the Center for Democratic Development is a time for deserved celebration of its many contributions to our country. Over the last ten years, CDD has worked with local and international partners to build capacity in Ghana’s civil society, to strengthen the Ghanaian parliamentary system and to monitor elections to assure that they are free and fair.

All along, through research and advocacy, CDD has advanced the values of liberty, enterprise and integrity in government and society at large. CDD has thrived as part of an emerging African civil society in a transforming Africa. I want to focus this lecture on that broader topic and also on quite a specialized segment of civil society, think tanks. I think that this is a timely topic because Africa is at a point in its transformation where strong contributions from civil society can have a lasting impact.