Good governance and development : what are the perspectives for Africa’s development?

Abstract: Governance is always perceived as trustworthy benchmark for good practices in prediction for better results through transparency and accountability. This is the reason why Western liberal democrats considered good governance as a prerequisite for Africa’s socio-economic development. This school of thought inferred that, democracy is the panacea for Africa’s woes and precarious socio-economic predicament. On the other hand, the second school of thought spearheaded by those who challenge the myth of market liberalism, postulate that socio-economic development is an essential conditionality for establishing viable democracy. Their thinking in this line is strongly promoted by countries such as South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey, and South Africa, where socio-economic development has occurred either under non-democratic or outright dictatorial governments. After the institutionalization of their economic development, these countries then embarked on a dynamic democratization process. Compromise analysts posit that despite the apparent dichotomy between the two views, there is merit in both approaches, because there is a positive correlation between democracy, good governance and socio-economic development. This group therefore proposes the concurrent institutionalization of both democracy and economic growth through a process of adaptation. They recommend that such a process should be gradual and inclusive, comprehensive and systematic, taking into cognizance the dynamic peculiarities and socio-cultural realities of African countries. This paper critically examines these views arising thereof