From Africa Recovery, Vol.12#1 (August 1998), page 36

Governance reforms gather pace

National plans of action presented at Special Initiative forum in Accra

By Iddrisu Siddiq* in Accra

Accountability and transparency are crucial for the political and economic transformation of Africa. But such principles can only be sustained if African governments take extra measures against corruption, and if they promote civil society participation in all spheres of national life, concluded the second African Governance Forum held in Accra, Ghana, on 25 to 26 June.

"Democracy, its accompanying rights of expression and other freedoms are the ultimate insurance of all the reforms we shall discuss in this forum," said Mr. K.Y. Amoako, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). Declaring that there are no substitutes for the principles of democracy, Mr. Amoako called for an end to winner-takes-all elections, legal and material constraints to forming and running political parties, and state repression of the opposition.

The two-day forum was a sequel to a similar forum held last year in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as the first in an annual series under the UN System-wide Special Initiative on Africa, (UNSIA). The governance component of UNSIA focuses on three areas: expanding capacities for transparent, responsible and effective governance; strengthening the role of civil society in development, including peace-building; and bolstering the capacity of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) for peace-building, conflict resolution and national reconciliation.

Organized by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and ECA, the lead agencies of this component, the Accra forum was attended by more than 80 participants, including high-level government officials from 10 African countries, civil society organizations, experts from the UN and other international partners. While the first forum covered a wide range of governance topics -- including decentralization, civil society empowerment, human rights, electoral and judicial reform, and public administration -- this year's event focused more tightly on selected issues, particularly accountability and transparency in government and public service.

Reflecting on the post-independence history of repression and dispossession in some parts of the continent, Mr. Amoako decried the "alarming phenomenon" of ruling groups tampering with constitutional provisions to lengthen the tenure of incumbent rulers. He applauded participating countries whose leaders "have shown real determination and courage in insisting they will serve for only as long as their respective constitutions allow." Such leaders, he said, are seeking a different future. They are heading towards states that ensure political order, that are based on the rule of law, and safeguard people's property.

The first part of the Accra meeting was devoted to considering the national good governance programmes of 10 countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, The Gambia, Ghana, Mali, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director of the Africa Regional Bureau Thelma Awori observed that the national reports reflected ownership by the governments themselves as well as a commitment to the goal of human-centred development. Among other aspects, the forum participants agreed that transparency and accountability are crucial elements for promoting development, and governments should involve civil society organizations in the process.

Dealing with corruption

Central to the discussions was the need to fight corruption, a key obstacle in entrenching transparency and accountability. Mr. Amoako called on Africans to learn from the Asian debacle, which, in his view, resulted from corruption in both the private and public sectors. Africa could least afford such effects of corruption even though it has displayed good economic performance in recent years. The optimism about its economic prospects is conditional on good governance and good leadership, he continued.

Citing recent research on capital flight which gives some indication of how much 'illegal wealth is siphoned from the continent," Mr. Amoako told the forum that Africans have transferred a staggering 37 per cent of their wealth abroad -- as compared to 29 per cent in the Middle East, 17 per cent in Latin America, 4 per cent in South Asia and 3 per cent in East Asia.

On his part, Mr. Olav Kjorven, Political Advisor to Norway's Minister of International Development and Human Rights, stressed that corruption, whether it emanates from greed or need, is unacceptable, since the losers are usually "the poor segments of the population." Norway, he said, is increasing its aid programmes in Africa on the basis of "a broad and holistic approach to development," as recommended in the UN Secretary-General's Africa report.

In order to better coordinate and focus the various efforts towards of good governance on the continent, participants agreed that the forums should provide a continuing vehicle for mobilizing support. They also agreed that the next forum, which the government of Mali has offered to host in 1999, would focus on conflict prevention, management and resolution.

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