Ghana cannot go back to the days of so much suffering and distress. "We have come a very long way in the practice of democracy, not even our politics should send us to autocracy", said Kojo Asante, a legal officer of the Center for Democratic Development.

In an interview with The Statesman, Kojo Asante briefly gave a clear cut on what is meant by true democracy; stating that democracy is the form of government where power resides with the people, with the view that power is exercised through representation of the people.

He hit on the principle of democracy, with the statement that 'ineffective use of the principles of democracy, will only serve as an elusive object residing in the constitution."

Stressing on the principles, Mr Asante said, "Every democratic country should be able to conduct a free and fair election, based on the universal adult suffrage". Adding that "democracy assumes that the authority of government springs not from force but from consent of the ruled who are depository of power".

He said effective participation in the decision making process is another principle of democracy. All qualified citizens, he said, should be allowed to effectively take part in decision making irrespective of their shortcomings.

According to him the principles of democracy should be able to reflect in the economy in terms of integrity, accountability, effectiveness, and responsiveness on the side of the government. That he stressed would save the country from ruin.

Mr Asante said Ghana has come a very long way in the practice of democracy since the day of independence to 1992 when freedom of speech and of worship was introduced in the constitution and indicated that there was an improvement from 1996 to 2001, when the criminal libel law was totally eliminated.

He said that "the countries we are imitating have not been able to achieve democracy to the optimum, adding that "When you are climbing a ladder you only have to make sure you don't loose focus else you drop and break your leg".

"Even though democracy is not food to eat as people complain, Ghanaians must keep on with the good work and not dream of going back to autocracy." In a quick reflection, he took The Statesman back to the 80s when the dominant rule destroyed both people and properties.

He said in other to achieve a democratic society there is the need to encourage political patronage, equal distribution of resources, effective representation of the people in government and a clear principle of merit, giving to everyone what he or she deserves.

"We have a very young population with about 60 per cent youth and there is a lot of uncertainty going on within them. If Government does not do anything profitable with their energy with effect to democracy, someone else will do and this might in the long run generate conflicts and misunderstanding, taking as back to our root", he noted.