Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy
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Political parties are key players in democratization
At the conference of the Community of Democracies in Bamako on 17 November 2007, African political parties have presented political elites as key players in democratization processes.
"In Ghana, we compare democracy with an air plane, " said Mr. Nketiah, Secretary General of the main opposition party NDC. "All political parties are in the plane. At some point, one of them is the pilot, the others are in Business or Economy class. But all parties are responsible to keep the plane up in the air. For if it crashes, no one will survive."
For the first time since the foundation of the Community of Democracies in 1999, political elites were invited to the biennial conference of democratic states. In previous years NIMD has continuously pleaded for the inclusion of political parties in this global platform. Because, although they are often perceived as weak players, well-functioning political elites are the key to sustainable democratic reforms in young democracies.
The conference was officially opened by the President of Mali, Mr. Amadou Toumani Toure. He stressed the importance of capable parties: "Political pluralism is the first indicator of a democratic life. From 1991 till today, our consecutive governments have always had at heart to strengthen the political parties and to enable them to assure their mission of education, sensitization and training of citizens."
About the Community of Democracies
The Community of Democracies is a coalition of democratic countries founded in 1999. Its goal is to strengthen democratic values and institutions at national, regional and global levels.
At the biennial meeting, governments and civil society groups from established and young democratic nations discuss the state of democracy around the world. At the conference in Bamako specific attention was paid to the link between poverty and development.
