Abstract

Governance is too complex for a simple definition. Broadly, governance encompasses ‘the collective action and mechanism of a society to achieve common and agreed goals’ (Dodgson, et al., 2002, p. 6). Governance therefore should, on a daily basis, embrace and have positive effect on every aspect of societal activities, from politics to economy and from health to social activities. There are two major players in the act of governance: the governor and the governed. The governor may include the government, the board/chief executive of a company, or the decision maker in a public or private setting, each holding the reins of power or controlling the instrument of power. The governed are the individuals who make up the society, a group or a company, who benefit or suffer the effect of governance. Ideally and in the strict sense of the word, governance should be of benefit to all involved; however, in reality and for many nations, especially in Africa, poor governance has been responsible for the undesirable state of social and economic development.