MANIFESTATIONS OF BAD GOVERNANCE ON THE THRESHOLD OF AFRICAN DEMOCRATIC PROCESS AND DEVELOPMENT

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 governance is 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 non- institutionalisation of 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