NEPAD AND THE CHALLENGE OF GOOD GOVERNANCE IN AFRICA

Witten by Dr MH Arab

Over the years, the African continent has suffered from poverty, disease and unprecedented backwardness, despite its being one of the most richly endowed in terms of natural and human resources. Africa remains dependent on the developed world for aids and credit facilities just because of its inability to maximize available resources to create wealth and bring her people out of hunger.

A greater percentage of Africans leave below poverty line, while majority do not have access to health facilities, drinking water, basic education and other basic infrastructure. In the face of this stag reality came the New Partnership for Africa’s Development NEPAD, which is a vision on strategic policy framework for the socio-economic development of Africa. NEPAD is a pledge by common leaders based on common vision and affirms and sheared conviction that they have a pleasant duty to eradicate poverty and to place their countries on the path of sustainable growth and development, to be relevant to the world’s economy and policy.

To facilitate the process, Africa has invited the developed world for partnership based on sheared responsibility and mutual interest for real development. The challenge of NEPAD therefore is to ensure the implementation of these decisions and resolution of African people to promote new relationship between Africa and the highly industrialized nations. The best way to achieve this is through committed leadership at all levels and the political will to enthrone good governance in their respective countries.

Lately, the concept of good governance has dominated international discuss. Multinational development institutions, united nation’s agencies, academics and civil societies have all began to realize that socio-economic development depends on effective governance.

Interestingly, with the growing recognition of the private sector as an engine of economic development, business firms and corporate bodies are also joining the crusade. Good governance is not solely the formal institutions or systems of democracy, but the processes and cultural, responsive democratic inclusiveness, i.e. citizens are not treated by government merely as voters or beneficiaries, but voices and participation on issues of public concern matter before policies are formulated.

Fortunately, NEPAD through its flagship programme African Peer Review Mechanism APRM has been addressing governance issues across Africa. APRM is the self-monitoring instrument voluntarily accepted tool by member states of the African Union aimed at fostering the adoption of policies, standards and practices that will lead to political stability, highest economic growth, sustainable development and accelerating regional and economic integration. Underscoring the importance of the initiative, the APRM country review mission in Nigeria in its report, has described the programme as the most innovative aspect of NEPAD, widely acclaimed as the jewel of the NEPAD’s crown.

To this date, 28 countries have voluntarily acceded to the programme. Out of this number, 6 countries (Ghana, Rwanda, Kenya, South Africa, Algeria and Benin) have already been peer reviewed and currently implementing the National Programme Of Action NPOA. Nigeria and Burkina Faso have received country review missions and are expected to be peer reviewed soon. Six other countries (Lesotho, Mali, Mauricio’s, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zambia) have also received country support missions while 14 countries are yet to launch the APRM process.

There is no doubt, APRM has provided a window of opportunity for African leaders to learn from past practices that peace and human security, human rights and sound economic management are critical to sustainable development. Therefore, the challenge for NEPAD through its flagship programme APRM is to ensure that issues such as accountability and corruption, rule of law, new value orientation, technical skills and appropriate response to public good are the starting point for good governance.