“The entrenchment of bad governance is evident in the continued manipulation of electoral systems and the weakening of institutional checks and balances. Recent Afrobarometer surveys reveal that public trust in government remains low, with citizens perceiving a deep disconnect between leadership and the provision of essential services”.
BY PROF VICTOR A. O. ADETULA
Corruption remains one of the most formidable obstacles to democratic governance across Africa, even in nations previously celebrated for their democratic progress such as South Africa, Senegal, and Ghana. Despite the continent’s growing adoption of electoral democracies, high levels of corruption persist, raising critical questions: does democracy necessarily reduce corruption? In other words, is a there a positive relationship between democracy and transparency and accountability in governance? What explains the tenacity of corruption in Africa’s new democracy? Do these patterns expose inherent limitations in the liberal democratic models adopted by many African countries? Or is widespread corruption symptomatic of incomplete political transitions, where multi-party elections were hastily implemented and often marred by fraud and controversy exemplifying electoral corruption?
Additionally, political transaction costs are often high in many African countries, and a crowded political arena increases both opportunities and pressures for corruption.
In recent years, the fight against corruption has revealed both persistent challenges and emerging forms of malfeasance. The proliferation of anti-corruption agencies and reforms—often encouraged by international organizations—suggests incremental progress. However, the effectiveness of these bodies is frequently undermined by political interference, selective enforcement, and inadequate resources.
High-profile cases in pseudo-democracies like Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa demonstrate that while prosecutions are initiated, substantive convictions are rare and political elites are often shielded from accountability.
Emerging trends also reflect the digitalization of public services, a measure intended to reduce opportunities for rent-seeking. Yet, this shift has sometimes introduced new avenues for cyber corruption and digital fraud.
The COVID-19 pandemic further exposed vulnerabilities: emergency funds and procurement processes in several countries became prime targets for embezzlement and mismanagement. The entrenchment of bad governance is evident in the continued manipulation of electoral systems and the weakening of institutional checks and balances. Recent Afrobarometer surveys reveal that public trust in government remains low, with citizens perceiving a deep disconnect between leadership and the provision of essential services. The growing influence of powerful executive branches, sometimes accompanied by crackdowns on the media and civil society, has narrowed spaces for accountability and dissent.
These contemporary dynamics reinforce the argument that Africa’s democratization wave has not fully addressed the structural and institutional roots of corruption. Rather, foreign-aided reformist agendas, often hastily implemented, have failed to cultivate resilient democratic institutions. Consequently, fragile democracies oscillate between limited reforms and authoritarian setbacks. While competitive elections are increasingly common, they are frequently marred by irregularities and lack of transparent oversight.
The resilience of patronage networks, politicization of anti-corruption bodies, and marginalization of critical voices all contribute to the persistence of bad governance. Ultimately, these trends have compounded citizen frustration, leading to lower levels of trust, weak social cohesion, and, in some cases, outright protests against state corruption and poor public service delivery—manifested recently in countries like Sudan, Kenya and Nigeria. Unless Africa’s leaders commit to genuinely independent institutions, an empowered civil society, and systemic reforms, the continent risks further democratic erosion and a resurgence of authoritarian practices, with corruption remaining a central impediment to progress.
…Victor A.O Adetula is a Professor of International Relations & Development Studies, University of Jos.
