3. Politics Versus Reality: The African State and Governance Post-COVID-19

The COVID-19 global pandemic in the first quarter of 2020, raised not only health concerns, but also, precipitated a global economic crisis in both the formal and informal sectors. The economic shutdowns around the world to contain the virus had devastating socioeconomic effects on the economies of African countries. The pandemic also revealed the importance of good governance structures in the development process. The importance of good governance structures, including political leadership, is epitomized in the fact that having it in place would help a country deal with the various health and economic challenges of the pandemic, and facilitate and maintain a post-COVID-19 recovery. This chapter, grounded in the theory of good governance, studies the political and governance implications of COVID-19 for Africa. The chapter examines the capacity to act and analyzes the extent to which the governance systems and institutions can assist in the recovery of African countries post-COVID-19. The chapter also focuses on the regulatory, judiciary, and various institutional processes that need to be in place to deal with a crisis such as COVID-19. Finally, the chapter demonstrates the importance of accountability, transparency, and efficiency in promoting socioeconomic development in the post-COVID-19 period.