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Top 10 African countries with Good Governance, 2024 by WGI

List of 10 Most African Countries with Good Governance ranked by WGI

April 29, 2024

What if I told you that Africa, often depicted as a monolith, possesses a rich tapestry of governance models that are as diverse and complex as the continent itself? In the world's second-largest continent, Good Governance varies dramatically from one country to another. Consider the case of Botswana and Zimbabwe, two neighboring countries with starkly different governance models.

Good governance refers to the effective and transparent management of public affairs by governments and institutions. It encompasses a set of principles and practices that promote accountability, participation, transparency, rule of law, inclusivity, and responsiveness to the needs of citizens. Good Governance is essential for development. It helps countries improve their economic growth, build human capital, and improve social relations. The Global Governance Index (WGI) is designed to help researchers and analysts identify broad patterns in governance thinking across countries and over time.

The World Governance Index (WGI) aggregates data collected from more than 30 world best think tanks, including international organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and private firms in the entire world referring to three key criteria:

1) they are produced by credible organizations;

2) they provide comparable cross-country data; and

3) they are regularly updated. The data reflects a broad range of management opinions from a wide range of stakeholders around the world, including tens of thousands of participants and experts.

WGI has six governance indicators for more than 200 countries and territories between 1996 and 2022:

Voice and Accountability: Voice and accountability means understanding how a country's citizens can participate in choosing their government, including freedom of expression, freedom of association, and free advertising.

Political Stability and Absence of Violence/Terrorism: Political Stability and Absence of Violence/Terrorism measures the perception of political instability and/or the likelihood of political violence, including terrorism.

Government Effectiveness: Government effectiveness reflects an understanding of the quality of public services, the quality of public services and their independence from government, the design and implementation of good policies, and confidence in the government's commitment to these rights.

Regulatory Quality: Good governance refers to the understanding of the government's ability to create and implement good policies and laws that allow and encourage private development.

Rule of Law: The rule of law reflects trust, and compliance with human rights, especially the administration of contracts, property rights, good authorities and courts, and the possibility of crime and violence.

Control of Corruption: Corruption control refers to the understanding of how public power is used for personal gain, including both minor and major forms of corruption, as well as the "capture" of the state by elites and personal interests.

WGI is designed to make comparisons between countries and evaluate any trends over time. When considering country-specific administrative changes, the working group should supplement these with detailed country-specific information. Because WGI combines information from sources generated by many organizations, it does not necessarily reflect the views of any one organization.

As of 2024, the Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI) by the World Bank provide insights into governance performance across different countries. Here are the top 10 countries in Africa based on their governance scores as per the WGI:

  1. Mauritius: Continuously recognized for its strong governance, Mauritius tops the list with high scores in areas like rule of law, control of corruption, government effectiveness, regulatory quality, and voice and accountability.
  2. Seychelles: Following closely behind Mauritius, Seychelles maintains a reputation for good governance with notable strengths in controlling corruption, government effectiveness, and the rule of law.
  3. Botswana: Botswana consistently ranks among Africa's best-governed countries, excelling in areas such as the rule of law, government effectiveness, and control of corruption.
  4. Cape Verde: With a strong focus on transparency and accountability, Cape Verde scores well in governance indicators such as control of corruption, regulatory quality, and government effectiveness.
  5. Rwanda: Rwanda's governance reforms have led to significant improvements, particularly in control of corruption, government effectiveness, regulatory quality, and rule of law.
  6. Namibia: Namibia maintains a stable governance framework with strengths in the rule of law, government effectiveness, and control of corruption.
  7. Ghana: Ghana's democratic institutions and efforts to combat corruption contribute to its good governance scores, particularly in government effectiveness and regulatory quality.
  8. Mauritania: Mauritania's governance performance has seen positive trends, with notable improvements in control of corruption, regulatory quality, and government effectiveness.
  9. South Africa: Despite challenges, South Africa remains a key player in governance in Africa, with strengths in regulatory quality and government effectiveness.
  10. Lesotho: Lesotho rounds up the top 10 with improvements in governance indicators such as control of corruption and rule of law.

These rankings reflect the ongoing efforts of these countries to strengthen governance structures, promote transparency, combat corruption, and uphold the rule of law, contributing to overall stability and development in the region.

Bottom Line

The top 10 countries with good governance in Africa, as identified by the Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI) in 2024, showcase a range of strengths across various governance indicators. Mauritius leads the pack with its robust governance framework, followed closely by Seychelles, Botswana, and Cape Verde, all of which demonstrate high levels of transparency, accountability, and rule of law.

Rwanda's governance reforms have propelled it into the top ranks, while Namibia, Ghana, and Mauritania continue to make strides in improving governance practices. South Africa, despite facing challenges, maintains a significant role in African governance, and Lesotho's efforts in enhancing governance are notable.

These countries serve as models for effective governance in Africa, emphasizing the importance of strong institutions, transparency, accountability, and responsiveness to citizen needs. Continued efforts to uphold democratic principles, combat corruption, and promote inclusive development are essential for sustaining good governance and fostering stability and prosperity across the continent.

 

Author: Donald Masimbi