Institutionalize system of checks, balances – Chissano

Mr. Joaquim Chissano, the former President of Mozambique has emphasized the need for African governments to institutionalize a system of checks and balances to promote good governance on the continent.

He said good governance was evolving on the continent in the context of democracy and so there was the need to put in place measures to entrench the practice.

Mr. Chissano said this when delivering the third edition of the Africa Leadership Lectures in Tamale, on Friday, under the topic: “Reflections on Leadership, Good Governance and Development in Africa.”

The Africa Leadership Lectures, held annually, was instituted by the University for Development Studies (UDS) in 2013, with the intention to contribute to a national and transnational discourse on productive leadership culture that will support and enhance African development.

This year’s lectures was climaxed on Saturday, with a special congregation in Tamale.

Mr. Chissano emphasized the need for accountability on the part of leaders and strong institutions to fight corruption at all levels of society to ensure that resources were applied for the benefit of all.

He advocated the need for a mechanism for assessing effective leadership and governance on the continent to ensure that leaders were accountable to the people.

He said integrity and humility should be the supreme qualities of a leader, adding that, a leader should listen to and address the concerns of the people.

Mr Chissano said Africa should be proud of her achievements despite the challenges and bad examples of some of her leaders, adding that, democracy had taken roots on the continent whiles there was marked improvement in economic management.

He advocated for a long-term strategy, which would capture the views of all, through popular participation in addressing the development needs of the continent.

Dr. Abdulai Baba Salifu, the Chairman of the Governing Council of UDS observed that Ghana was unable to achieve a consensus on national issues because most of her leaders always thought along their ethnic and political lines.