Abstract
This paper argues that there is a worldwide resurgence of interests on the concept of good governance, democracy and development. This is because everything in the world today revolves around development. The current framework of public policy imperatives that emanate from around the world suggests that effective entrenchment of democracy and good governanceis a prerequisite for development. This paper examines the challenges of good democratic governance in Africa in contemporary time. This orbits around the problems of bad governance which manifests is corruption and other forms of particularistic behaviour through the noninstitutionalisationof accountability institutions and mechanisms. It argues that the absence of effective measures to counter these perennial “demons” could result in stagnation, lack of growth and development. The paper concludes that improving governance requires effective democratic process driven by ethical principles which would regulate how people make right decisions about governance.KEY WORDS: Africa, Governance, Democratization, Good governance, Development, African development.
Highlights
Despite the significant advances in human development in recent times, the search for aptness in government and governance that is oriented toward development, the common good and wellbeing of the people of Africa has become something of a scandal and ironic (Anyanwu, 1998:148)
Essien Manifestations of Bad Governance on the Threshold of African Democratic Process and Development like the world Bank, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) to become “governance infatuated” by giving prescription and insisting that governance reform is the key to economic growth and development in Africa
Progress in this perspective is exemplified by the adoption of a number of governance initiatives including: the 2001 AU/New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Foundation Document on Conditions for Sustainable Development in Africa; the 2002 Declaration on Democracy, Political, Economic and Corporate Governance; the coming into force of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights in 2004; the 2005 Commission for Africa Report; and the 2007 Potsdam G8 Action Plan for Good Financial Governance in Africa (Kanbur, 2004 :79)
Summary
Despite the significant advances in human development in recent times, the search for aptness in government and governance that is oriented toward development, the common good and wellbeing of the people of Africa has become something of a scandal and ironic (Anyanwu, 1998:148). Essien Manifestations of Bad Governance on the Threshold of African Democratic Process and Development like the world Bank, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) to become “governance infatuated” by giving prescription and insisting that governance reform is the key to economic growth and development in Africa This situation presents two contrasting and complementary reasons to provoke our moral thought why we should show concern and invoke ethics, values and norms of good governance which would enable us to raise evaluative questions about proper procedures, transparency, the quality and process of decision making, selection of officials and other such matters (Doornbos, 2001:94). Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the situation is that in the last few decades, various ideas, concepts, issues and agendas of many institutions have been developed on how to achieve good governance and development and stem the tide of the declining fate and fortune of many countries especially in Africa (Abrahamsen 2000:133-134) This has lends credence to the fact that governance has come to mean different things to different people. Of good governance in some part of contemporary Africa is in its paucity has resulted in numerous perverse manifestations detrimental to sustainable growth and development
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
