The Mo Ibrahim Foundation: A Catalyst for Promoting Good Governance in Africa?

Abstract

Over the last decade, the concept of good governance has been highly canvassed for across the world. For Africa in particular, the concept has been viewed as a panacea for its increasing challenges in governance and sustainable economic development. This has necessitated development partners such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank (WB) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to spell out a set of principles to guide their objectives in member countries. To a large extent, these external influences have not been entirely without challenges. The 21st century Africa has instituted mechanisms and initiatives that seek to drive its own governance crusade across the world. Further, other private individuals like Dr Mo Ibrahim of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation (MIF) have sought to use his wealth and expertise to help Africa rise from the doldrums of bad governance. The MIF seeks to ensure good and accountable governance and transparent leadership across the fifty-four (54) states of Africa through its initiatives: the Ibrahim Index of African Governance; the Ibrahim Prize; the Ibrahim Forum and the Ibrahim Fellowship. Using a qualitative research methodology, unstructured interviews, observation techniques and other secondary sources of data the research has gained insights on the perceptions of some people about the Foundation. The findings affirm the hypothesis that the MIF is a catalyst for promoting good governance in Africa.