Governance Context and Reorientation of Government

The governance context of public administration in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has attracted considerable attention since the late 1980s. According to many observers, the problem of persistent underdevelopment in SSA is due in large part to the poor governance environment. A 1989 World Bank study of SSA stated: “Underlying the litany of Africa’s development problems is a crisis of governance [italics added]. By governance is meant the exercise of political power to manage a nation’s affairs. Because countervailing power has been lacking, state officials in many countries have served their own interests without fear of being called to account. . . . Politics becomes personalized, and patronage becomes essential to maintain power. The leadership assumes broad discretionary authority and loses its legitimacy. Information is controlled, and voluntary associations are co-opted or disbanded. This environment cannot readily support a dynamic economy” ( World Bank 1989 ).