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.