AN ASSESSMENT OF DEMOCRACY AND MORAL DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA

Abstract

An assessment of Democracy and Moral development in Africa 63 Int.J. Hum. Soc. Dev. Res. Volume 5, No 1, 2021.62-79 Introduction Without mincing words, democracy has become a global hype and the democratic wind of change has swept like a hurricane or a virus across the length and the breath of Africa. Not less than 70 percent of states in Africa have embraced democracy. This situation is not unconnected with the common view that democracy is the only viable and sustainable mode of organizing society for development. It is patronized and widely acclaimed as the political messiah, for many of the seeming by unending socioeconomic and political problems facing humanity. The underlying belief is that the enthronement and sustenance of democracy (mostly in Africa) will solve virtually all problems confronting her (Africa) thereby leading to her development. In the same vein, many countries in the world use the appellation, democratic society in order to signify to the other states that they are democratic. In a UNESCO survey carried out in 1962, practically every country in the world claimed that it was a democratic state (Irele 1998:83). By all known standards and with all intents and purposes, democracy is still the best form of government. Democracy, with all its defects, implies a recognition of the duties of government and the rights of the people. It postulates a measure of personal freedom and equal consideration for all classes. Democracy paves way for development because those elected are responsible and accountable to the people, though in an ideal society.. It is a government founded on the people’s will. The people determine who gets what, when and how it implies recognizing the people as the source of all political power and authority. The people’s will is usually expressed by way of election. At this juncture, it is expedient to declare that for democracy to strive, all necessary elements for its substance must exist which include, but not limited to: a general acceptance of electoral and political party arrangements within which diverse groups’ interest are represented, the formal constitutional manifestations of these democratic practices include representatives bodies such as parliament, elected executives and a virile judiciary. Despite this, people do not allow democracy to thrive and thereby depriving people of reaping “the dividends of democracy”.