These are two independent concepts; democracy and good governance quite often in Africa conceived to be used interchangeably which is not so. Democracy and good governance create and facilitate environment for sustainable development in an ideal society, but they have been overreached to be one and the same in Africa. In as much as they complement each other in order to achieve common purpose, they are not the same, while democracy focus on wider representation of the people, high level of involvements in promoting the ideals and concepts of the government, good governance focus on infrastructural, capital and human development in driving a country to the desired destination.
It is widely misconstrued by the African public that democracy guarantee automatic good governance, that’s why during electioneering campaign in Africa, when prospective leaders make robust promises to cushion the defects in the system, failure to reach the promises made will attract public outcry and condemnation, this is because democracy and good governance have been misconstrued to used interchangeably in Africa. This is about the masses being aware of the political system, to hold the leaders accountable in fulfilling the promises, as such it creates a moral obligation to walk the talk, which ought to bind them in conscience.
In practical and true sense what Africa practice is pseudonym democracy that, lack the requisite ingredients of the original conception of democracy. Two systems that can be rightly point out in Africa is constitutional coup and military coup, this is exactly what African politicians understand, which is directly detrimental and unhealthy for the development and evolvement in Africa. The wave of military coup in Africa has underscored the pseudonym democracy recognized by the leaders in Africa. Through constitutional coup they maneuver the required provisions of the law and with dead judicial system in Africa, they pervert justice and the circle continues.
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What should be conceived is democratic good governance that will merge the two concepts of democracy and good governance in one, to serve the common purpose of promoting, and through governmental policies facilitate sustainable development, economic growth, creating a link between the leaders and the citizens without any bureaucratic proxy that will hinder communication, and putting the country first, above any other interest. Many systematic policies have stalled the development of African political sphere, the backwardness is glaring which leave the younger generations groaning over a dimmed hope, in search of fulfillment of purpose to create a purposeful and fulfilling life.
A well-meaning society should prioritize the growth of the society through ushering the new generation in, in well cultured system that sustain good legacy and pass it down to the upcoming generation. African countries are always dependent on foreign countries to achieve a policy, African Union is weak as a stronghold for organization of all African countries, lacks military might, stunted economy, insolvent and highly corruption plagued. Practical democratic good governance will push Africa out of shambles, as opposed to misconstrued democracy and good governance, and pseudonym democracy, with that sustainable exemplary legacy will be passed down to generations of Africans, as opposed to systems plagued in all ramifications.
