Answer Happy

COVID-19 pandemic reaffirms the importance of good governance inAfrican states Since March 2020, when African states startedreporting COVID-19 cases, critical governance concerns began torise. One issue is how to strike the right balance betweenupholding democratic governance, respect for human rights andeffectively addressing the spread and impact of COVID-19. Due toweak state capacities, accountability challenges and constrainedstate-society relations in some African states, there were fearsthat COVID-19 would have especially pronounced and devastatingeffects on the continent. While the impact of COVID-19 in Africahas not been greater than in the rest of the world, the pandemic’svast political and socio-economic impact has brought to the forethe critical role of the state, especially in effective managementof crises, disasters and public health emergencies. While somecountries, such as Senegal, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya,Uganda and Rwanda, adopted restrictive measures like curfews andlockdowns, others such as Tanzania and Zambia, opted for partialrestrictions and remained largely open. Faced with attendantsocio-economic costs, many began easing lockdowns and cautiouslyreopening their economies. In states such as Nigeria, Kenya,Zimbabwe and South Africa, the pandemic has revealed an underbellyof governance deficits, illustrated by allegations of rampant theftof COVID-19 funds and resources, violation of human rights andimpunity of security forces deployed ostensibly to keep the peaceand maintain law and order (African Peer Review Mechanism - APRM2020). To address these governance deficits, both during theCOVID-19 crisis and in the postpandemic recovery period, Africanstates, in line with their obligations under international humanrights law, should commit to upholding the rule of law,accountability, democratic processes and good governance. Theeffectiveness of governments in responding to the challenges posedby the pandemic will depend on their respect for human rights,transparency, accountability and civic engagement, which can befacilitated by technology, innovation and digital governance.Global solidarity and cooperation are critical and there is a needto collaborate and build global synergies to address the impact ofthe virus. Collaboration can ensure coordination and synergy, whilepreventing duplication, reducing overlap and enhancing resourcepooling. African states have received support from globalinstitutions and partners to curb the spread of COVID-19 and itsimpacts. However, the impact of global efforts to support Africanstates may be impaired by the fact that global governanceinstitutions are Page 3 of 4 themselves struggling under the weightof COVID-19’s impact. To overcome this challenge, global actors,including the European Union (EU), international financialinstitutions such as the World Bank and the International MonetaryFund and the United Nations (UN) must reform and strengthen theirown institutions, systems and processes to render them moreproactive and responsive reflecting the values they espouse.Pervasive impunity, lack of accountability and corruption in boththe public and private sectors continue to threaten effectivegovernance in several African states. It is therefore imperative toinculcate trust between citizens and their government and upholdthe social contract through inclusive and participatory governancethat delivers. This is particularly true for those on the margins.As Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela both reiterated, the truemeasure of a society is how it treats its most vulnerablepopulations, including women, children, youths and persons withdisabilities. Good Governance should be anchored on servicedelivery, respect for human rights, upholding the rule of law,constitutionalism and transparency. This requires, among otherthings, access to credible information, data and statistics. Toenhance effective governance, states should start by addressinggovernance deficits and redefining and prioritising improvement ofstate-society relations, as well as revitalising the socialcontract. This should include abolishing impunity, corruption andaccountability deficits based on human rights principles andfocusing on the most marginalised segments of the population.Effective state governance requires the solidarity, cooperation andcollaboration of regional and global actors. Accordingly, beyondsupporting the priorities of states and regional bodies such as theAfrican Union (AU), regional and global actors should step forwardto contribute to alleviating the socio-economic costs of COVID-19,including debt relief measures. (Adapted from African Peer ReviewMechanism Report 2020 and Great Insights Magazine, October 2020).(a) Discuss the relevance of the OECD principles of Good Governancein addressing governance deficits arising from the COVID-19pandemic in African countries. [10 Marks] (b) Enumerate fivespecific strategies to combat corruption in both the public andprivate sectors in African countries which will inculcateconfidence among citizens [10 Marks] (c) Explain briefly five keyunderpinning concepts of the Mauritius National Code of CorporateGovernance 2016 which are relevant to address these governancedeficits arising during the COVID-19 pandemic in Mauritius. [10Marks] (d) Why has the emphasis on Good Governance increased in the21st Century?