Reflections on some Dynamics of Development: Good Governance and the Sustainable Development Goals
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Date
2016
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Ghana Social Science Journal
Abstract
The multidimensionality, complexity, sustainability and vicissitudes of
development have been at the heart of scholarly debates and have
attracted the interest and attention of governments, citizens and
development partners in Ghana and other African countries (Goulet
1971; Bryant and White 1982; Sen 1999; Todaro 2000; UN 2000; UN
2015; World Bank 1978-2016, among others). In fact, the post-colonial
state in Africa has largely been preoccupied with issues, processes and
strategies of development since the attainment of independence. Even
though there is no universal definition of development, it is largely seen
as the capacity and capability of a country to formulate and implement
strategies and interventions which are meant to reduce inequality,
unemployment and poverty. Development also entails building effective
institutions, providing basic services, and ensuring the judicious
management of human and physical resources, accelerated growth, social
changes and stability. In this connection, development encompasses
political, economic and social spheres (Goulet 1971; Bryant and White
1982; World Bank 1991; 2001; 2003; 2004; United Nations 1994;
Todaro 2000). This has been reinforced by Sen (1999: 1) who views
development “as a process of expanding the real freedoms that people
enjoy”. To him, even though growth in gross national product, rise in
personal incomes, industrialization, technological advancement andsocial modernization are important means to expanding the freedoms of
individuals, they present a narrower view of development
Description
Ghana Social Science Journal, 13(2)
Keywords
industrialization, technological advancement, personal incomes, African countries