Situated on the southern coast of the Gulf of Guinea is Accra, the Capital of Ghana. At one point known as The Gold Coast, Accra is inextricably linked to the devastating Trans-Atlantic Slave trade that saw one million people trafficked from its shores. 

Yet, testament to the resilience of her people, covering almost 226 square kilometers, Accra today is a bustling city famous for Kente cloth, vibrant markets and smart stores, juxtaposed against luxury hotels, historical sites and museums. A visit to Accra is fragrant with Africanity.

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Saeed Salahudeen is a Ghanian based in Accra, the capital of Ghana, where he’s a senior manager at Afrobarometer and also manages the Africa Judicial Independence Fund.

Saeed is lawyer, member of the Ghana Bar, a practicing Chartered Account and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Ghana.

Afrobarometer has partners spread all over Africa and as a senior manager, Saeed travels broadly on the continent, including to South Africa and so Cape Town, where he recently attended the International Association of Women Judges, 17th Bi-annual Conference in Cape Town.

Saeed is motivated by the enormous potential of the African continent, flagshipped by the exuberance and early adoptive Youth, who form the bulk of the population, along with the natural resources and geo location of Africa in relation to the rest of the world.

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In this episode, Ruth has the opportunity to sit with Saeed, on one of his business trips to Cape Town. The conversation is revelatory not just because it unveils the reasons behind Saeed’s frequent travels on the continent, but also because it informs Ruth about Afrobarometer, the organisation that he is proud to represent as a Senior Executive, and the important mission it has taken on. In a nutshell, Saeed is playing his part in keeping a watchful eye on Africa.

Founded in 1999, Afrobarometer is an independent think- tank, based in Accra, Ghana. This non-partisan organisation’s signature task is to monitor democracy and governance using data routinely collected from 44 nations in Africa. Besides delving into how citizens experience democracy on the continent, Afrobarometer also rates other key issues such as access to technology, cultural and climate concerns, unemployment and other macro-economic indicators. The meticulously collected data weaves an intricate and colourful tapestry of information, which when held up to scrutiny, sends an unambiguous signal on the heartbeat of the continent. Signals that are interpreted by local governments and international organisations in forming policy frameworks. 

Saeed is eloquent and passionate in discussing his work. Ruth is taken aback to learn that authoritarian rule may be becoming a lesser evil to failed democracy in parts of Africa, while boosted to learn of the advancements of justice in general, as citizens become better acquainted with their rights and as Social Justice becomes more mainstream.

By the time food is percolates into the conversation and Ghanaian Highlife music is celebrated, it’s been another opportunity to recognise important work being done in this marvellous continent of contrasts. A clear indication that in Afrobarometer, African leaders and citizenry have a reliable beacon. It is up to us as a collective on the Continent, to not only equip ourselves with the freely available feedback from the non-partisan surveys, but also to act on it, so as to keep Africa on a steady course to prosperity.

Twendeni, Africa is Ready!

Connect with Saeed: LinkedIn

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