Development initiatives and global governance : a continental perspective

Abstract

This article makes a critical survey of the literature and provides an analysis on the emerging issues that underpin governance imperatives in Africa under the different administrative and paradigmatic settings. The article further provokes an informative debate on the examination of governance dilemmas at nation-state level and corporate level dimensions before analysing the global governance trends spearheaded, especially under the aegis of the global economic multilaterals (GEMs), in the wake of good governance pursuit. It is argued that the governance gaps in the developing world have exacerbated the tentacles of the global governance in the socio-economic and politico-administrative spheres, while the recent partnership schemes between Africa and the G8 promises to ameliorate the state-of-affairs, but with a surge of encumbrances. While the demonstrated benefits in the partnership and debt relief should filter through to the vulnerable grassroots, there is a perception that there is a dire need to make the concept of good governance less overwhelming to poor countries.