Good governance has key elements such as rule of law, participatory, consensus oriented, accountable, transparent, responsive, effective and efficient, equitable and inclusive. However analysis of the performance of most governments in Sub Sahara Africa shows that they are failing to achieve it. The question is what are the reasons explaining why most government are failing to promote good governance ?
"Good governance is rare in Africa, but it exists in a few countries such as Botswana, Mauritius, Senegal, and Ghana. Good governance promotes sustainable development. Countries with good governance are efficient in delivery of public services... They are transparent and promote participation as well as show respect for citizens and allow for a free press and for overall freedom of expression. Autocratic and dysfunctional governments are unable to meet all or some of these commitments. Good governance also reduces poverty, which can be measured in at least two ways". Sisay Asefa Wei-Chiao Huang (2015).
Sisay Asefa Wei-Chiao Huang (2015). The Challenges of Good Governance and Leadership in Developing Countries: Cases from Africa and China Western. Michigan University. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research
Every day, in Africa and elsewhere, we are reminded of the changes needed for economic, environmental, and social progress and of the importance of governance, but not that institutions are the channels through which change can happen. We would do well to consider what is meant by (and can be accomplished through) participation, how participation grows out of democratic processes, how these processes depend on the structure of institutions, and how institutions originate from (and are supported by) human resources. Only then will we understand better the processes of progress and picture more accurately the necessarily diverse levels of the organizational setups on which progress depends.
One thing that complicates our problem of bad governance in Sub Saharan Africa is that our leaders surround themselves with bad advises, who advise them to pauperize their citizens so that whenever they dangle brides to them they take it wholeheartedly. Some of their violent minority supporters can go as far as killing their opponents in the interest of the privileged few. Consequently, institutions are weak because brutal dictators hold sway. Also, personality cults exists in every important area of endeavor. Hence, the vicious cycle of poverty continues.
African nations have extractive economic institutions which are supported by extractive political institutions that inhibit inclusive economic growth. Because of this society fails. This process comes in circular way where the leadership crisis expedite the process of deceleration in overall progress. Since leadership in power is in the Lucas, they are reluctant to promote good governance. Moreover, new form of colonisation extracts resources with the vested group of power. The whole nexus serves as impediment to promoting good governance. Although I am not living in Sub Sahara African country, my proposition based on developing country perspectives.
Olivier Serrat Thanks for sharing and shading more light on this topic. for instance on the structure of institutions and human resource. I have also reflected on skills gaps and values of our current political leaders and civil servants which shows why they behave in a particular way and the results from their actions. for example corruption is a consequence of bad governance. Thanks
Ronald, absolutely spot-on regarding the central issue of corruption impeding good governance. The viscous circle of corrupt political leadership and civil servants will continue to hinder any progress in many countries in the future. Effective HR development, recruitment and talent management are key but raises an interesting issue of a dependency culture when outside support is (necessarily) required.
The term 'good governance' is itself a matter of debate, due to its orientation by donors according to standardised technocratic criteria. It is similar to good financial management and is oriented towards the fight against corruption. Good governance is arguably broader than this, addressing issues of justice, ethics, and global sustainability with a vision of sustainability. Furthermore, governing elites benefit from weak regulations that largely facilitate certain forms of "bad governance", often being "judge and jury", and even certain forms of impunity, and benefiting from the weakness of counter-powers.
Thanks Remi Chukwudi Okeke , Free and fair is key. Unfortunately African elections fall short of these principles of democracy of choosing and replacing individuals and governments. I adopt what you have proposed on rephrasing the question " good governance may be achieved in these countries".Pierre Janin , your sharing reminds me of what we have witnessed in the recent past in my country Uganda.
Roger Darby response emphasis what has been shared by Olivier Serrat and different scholars which is informative and important for a paradigm shift in political management of especially developing states. Mohammad Rezaul Karim adds that one of the key challenges is that African nations have extractive economic institutions maintained by extractive political institutions. Mathew Egu reminds us that we are disadvantaged by weak institutions as a result of bad dictators. surprisingly they pose around as democratically elected leaders
Due to the lack of leaders' commitment and absence of strong mechanism to ensure good governance. Finally, the benefits from good governance is not clear to the ordinary citizens.
Answering it in a short space is difficult, given the complexity of the subject. But fortunately a team at buildingstatecapability.com wrote the best book I know of to answer this question:
https://web.archive.org/web/20210409202050/https://bsc.cid.harvard.edu/building-state-capability-evidence-analysis-action
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