Exploring the relationship between good governance and development in Sub-Saharan Africa : lessons from South America

Abstract

Africa remains the poorest continent in the world. Intellectuals from Africa and the broader international community have advanced many reasons for poverty and underdevelopment on the continent. Reasons provided include slavery, geography, poor health, culture, globalisation and colonialism. This article acknowledges that these reasons do, to an extent, contribute to the continent’s developmental challenges. However, arguably poor governance is the main developmental obstacle in sub-Saharan Africa. As such, the authors believe that good governance is the core catalyst to facilitate development. Thanks to good governance, other parts of the world that were subjected to the same historical trajectory of slave trade and colonialism have managed to show profound growth. Notably, focus on good governance was particularly effective in developing parts of South America. The article concludes that unless sub-Saharan Africa adopts this type of good governance approach, the dream of development may continue to be elusive.