Abstract
Politics determines or at least influences the direction of individual and national socio-economic condition. There is an interconnection and some form of dependency between politics and economy. Most of the prosperous industrialized economies of the world have stable and sustainable political systems. Hence, one could argue that the poor economic situation of most African nations cannot be explained outside the issues of political impropriety across the continent. The political process in many of the African states is characterized by abuses of all kinds such as electoral infractions, constitutional violations, human rights abuses and misappropriation of powers. Many traditional political systems in Africa have been eroded meanwhile foreign and imported political ideologies have failed to deliver such dividends of national socio-political and economic gains as is the case in their respective home fronts. This research discovers through exposition and critical analysis of literature and experience that the problem with politics in Africa is not essentially about the political ideologies either traditional or foreign but basically a problem of large-scale moral and ethical failing of people who are political actors of various levels, either as leaders or followers. The paper concludes by viewing this problem as an opportunity for building ethical leadership capacity resulting in a new political paradigm for good governance across Africa.
Highlights
As we count down to the last decade of the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) deadline of 2030, the bitter reality is that, just like many other economies, many African countries are very far from realising the key targeted development goals
The various manifestations of democratic and electoral infractions in Africa discussed in the preceding sections of this paper provide the continent an ample opportunity for developing ethical leadership capacity which will result in a new political paradigm
The political system in countries where democracy has led to good governance is such that subjects all political leaders and public officers to different levels of accountability
Summary
As we count down to the last decade of the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) deadline of 2030, the bitter reality is that, just like many other economies, many African countries are very far from realising the key targeted development goals. 4. Elections, Electoral Infractions and State Failure in Africa About six decades after most African nations have gained political independence from their colonial masters; many countries on the continent have adopted liberal democracy as the prevailing system of government. An electoral democracy designation requires a score of 7 or better in the Electoral Process subcategory, an overall political rights score of 20 or better, and an overall civil liberties score of 30 or better The implication of these reports is that majority of elections that have held in Africa lack the basic and fundamental democratic principles and institutional frameworks which are necessary for the emergence of competent leaders and the birth of good governance. The basic target of any meaningful reversal of the unfortunate electoral improprieties trending across the continent should commence with the individuals regardless of the level of political involvement
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