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An Assessment Of The Contributions Of Nepad To African Development And Good Governance
[A CASE STUDY OF THE AFRICAN PEER REVIEW MECHANISM (APRM)]
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CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
It has
come to light that good governance and democracy in all societies,
including third world countries, Africa in particular, are not merely
desirable but vital requirements for economic growth. Africa has
achieved great economic successes over the years and has African country
has more economic resources than any other country in the world system.
Paradoxically,
in many countries, the African continent is languishing in poverty,
evidenced by severe hunger, disease and ignorance. Africa, sometimes
referred to as the ‘forgotten continent’ have been plagued with
corruption, unemployment, civil strife and terror because of dictators
and citizens who are poor and desperate to earn a living (Awung, 2011).
The growth prospects of the new politically independent African States
were high in the late 1950s and early 1960’s. African nationalist
leaders strived hard to kick out the colonizers. Massive demonstrations,
protests, strikes, civil disobedience, petitions, negotiations, and
boycotts were resorted to as tactics to gain independence. Now, when
independence finally came, these leaders had to contend with a
politically and economically underdeveloped continent.
By 1990, many
Africans had become unhappy with the corrupt, inefficient, repressive
and dictatorial structures of governance that prevailed in the
post-colonial era (Appiah, 2015). At the heart of attempts by
multilateral and bilateral donors to attenuate corruption in developing
countries, the acceptance of the practice of democracy and good
governance as an essential condition for financial aid, increasingly
emerged chiefly among African countries in the early 1990s
(Khorram-Manesh, 2013). With the adoption of democracy, political
inclusiveness in Africa became more pronounced. In Africa, this period
seemed to mark a new dawn of hope (Appiah, 2015). Thus, majority of
African countries went from authoritarian rule to multi-party democracy
(Adejumobi, 2000).
Currently, democracy stands as the most dominantly
practiced political ideology in Africa and in the world at large.
Samuel Huntington argues that, contemporary democracy definitions could
be divided into three separate categories: source of authority to the
government or government, served purposes, or government constituent
procedures (Huntington 1991:6). Democracy in simple terms, is a system
of governance where a leader is held accountable for his or her actions
and inactions through periodic elections. Therefore, power is vested in
the people who rule either directly or through freely elected
representatives. Good governance on the other hand, according to Allen
(2000) has been described by the late UN General Secretary Kofi Annan
as:
“Good governance comprises the rule of law, effective state
institutions, transparency and accountability in the management of
public affairs, respect for human rights, and the participation of all
citizens in the decisions that affect their livesâ€
Coined together,
‘democracy and good governance’ can basically be described as a
political regime centered on a liberal-democratic polity model that
guarantees human rights and equal opportunity, coupled with a reliable,
incorruptible and responsible government. Todaro and Smith (2009) stress
that democracy as well as economic growth will go hand in hand in the
long run, while Oslon (1993) adds that steady democracy offers room for
economic growth. Knutsen (2010) argues that in Africa the inclination of
dictatorial regimes to choose poor policies is compounded by the
generally weak institutional structures of the state. Hence, with
empirical studies indicating that democracy, globally induces economic
development, Africa must embrace democracy (Knutsen, 2010).
Over the
years, a couple of new initiatives were adopted and implemented by
Africa’s political leadership to address apparently perennial problems
of poverty, underdevelopment, poor governance, corruption, instability,
and political deterioration, with the overall goal of accelerating
development in the continent (Mbadlanyana, 2014). The New Partnership
for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) adopted in 2001 and ratified in 2002 by
African Heads of State, is one of the most important initiatives in
this regard. This initiative is a combination of the African Recovery
Millennium Action Plan, the Omega Plan and the New Compact with Africa.
In adopting NEPAD, African Heads of State and Government agreed, “on the
basis of a common vision and shared conviction, that they have a
pressing duty to eradicate poverty and to place their countries, both
individually and collectively, on a path of sustainable growth and
development, and at the same time to participate actively in the world
economy and body politic†(NEPAD, 2015). NEPAD is a ‘large concept’ as
well as a framework for best practice. Also, NEPAD is an avenue for
significant capital flows, both in terms of assistance and trade, and an
effort to establish a growth alliance based on good governance (Waal,
2002).
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ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]Over the years, the concept of good governance, which guided the study has become the concern for donor partners, the Global West and some NGOs, as an ideal way of addressing the problems facing developing countries. Good governance eventually became a precondition for aid in Africa in an attempt to propel African leaders to respect human rights, implement economic reforms, ensure alternation of power in a free and fair election, among others. Among other things, African leaders adopted the AU a ... Continue reading---
