African Social Science Review

The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia: Liberal Democratic or Authoritarian Regime?

Solomon Terfa — Wed, 16 May 2012 10:14:01 PDT

The leaders of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia adopted their constitution on December 8, 1994. This analysis argues that the ethno-linguistic federal political system adopted by the founding members is problematic because the framers superimposed the constitution on the citizens dogmatically without thoroughly examining the country’s objective reality. Hence, the author contends that the ethnic federalist paradigm adopted in Ethiopia is diametrically opposed to the wishes and aspirations of the people as validated by a survey he conducted between 1992 and 1993. He draws from this, perhaps the first and only study on this pertinent topic, to argue his case. The author also argues that the framers excluded the citizens from being represented at the constitution drafting convention by bona fide experts because they knew the people would neither be amenable to nor supportive of the political agenda the framers had designed. This reinforces the mutual mistrust between the citizens and the government. Inevitably, authoritarian rule was established.

Editorial Matter

Andrew I.E. Ewoh — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:57:43 PDT

Editorial matter for African Social Science Review, vol. 5, issue 1, Spring 2012.

News Media and Environmental Policy: The Case of the Niger Delta Crises

Onimi Wilcox et al. — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:57:42 PDT

The article examines the Nigerian media coverage of the devastation and environmental impact of decades of oil spills in the Niger Delta. Using the agenda setting approach as a conceptual framework, the analysis aims to uncover the role played by the media in the environmental policy process. The article begins with a discussion of the modus operandi of various media outlets in reporting the nature and scope of oil spill. This is followed by a review of the national government’s effort in managing and reducing the incidents of oil spill on the environment and the affected communities. On the basis of issues identified, the analysis offers some recommendations for all the actors involved in the environmental policy, and concludes by encouraging the media to continually publicize the causes and consequences of oil spill to mobilize the citizens to petition the federal government to enact good regulatory policies to contain environmental degradation of the Delta region.

Engaging Thaba Tseka Young People in Lesotho Public Service Activities: Paray High School Drama Group Case Study

Mpho Letima et al. — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:57:40 PDT

Public service is not only the responsibility of governments. For-profit and nonprofit organizations are major providers of public goods and services, as are citizens in their respective different capacities. The community as co-producer or primary provider of public service is an increasing phenomenon. The concept of “Citizen Driven Government” describes this practice in public administration. Prevalent instances of citizen driven government are found in the areas of health, education, crime reduction and gender sensitization. This paper elaborates on the role of youth in the delivery of a community driven public service for the Thaba–Tseka district in Lesotho. It describes their participation in planning, designing and implementing of a drama project to enhance knowledge and change behavior surrounding the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Qualitative and quantitative results presented in this analysis reveal the impact of the community-youth-driven initiative. The active participation and discussion on issues, facilitated by their use of drama, improved openness, confidence, open communication between peers, youth and adults surrounding HIV/AIDS. This improvement in communication represents transformative behavior for a culture where silence and limited openness about sexual issues (HIV/AIDS in particular) are presumed to be protective of the youth and too embarrassing for adults. This level of public service in Lesotho by these young people was in essence an extension of what the Ministry of Health, Education and Youth Sports and Gender were tasked to do. In conclusion, this analysis argues for more youth driven activities in an era where governments have limited resources and are relying more on citizens as co-producers of public goods and services.

Lethargic Policymaking: The Case of Gender Quota Legislation in Kenya

Mercy K. Dena — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:57:38 PDT

Governments around the world have in recent years, increased the numbers of women legislators through gender quotas. Kenyan women inched closer to the glass ceiling when a new constitution in 2010 guaranteed them 13 percent representation in the parliament. Kenya currently stands at 10 percent women representation, which is significantly lower than neighboring countries Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda, that stands at above 30 percent. Using the theory of representative bureaucracy by Krislov and Rosenbloom (1981), and Kingdon (2003) concept of agenda setting and the policy process, this analysis delineates past government policies and analyzes the constitutional process encompassing gender quota legislation. This research utilizes multiple secondary and archival datasets such as government reports, academic and professional publications, news articles, and statistical agencies’ reports. Findings show that the Kenya government is slow in increasing women representation because political, cultural, and ideological structures continue to pose obstacles in policymaking.

Styles of Foreign Assistance: Policy Transfer and Domestic Development in Sub-Saharan African States

Kelechi A. Kalu — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:57:36 PDT

With the end of the Second World War in 1945, Official Development Assistance (ODA) mainly from the United States went to formerly industrialized European countries to help rebuild their war-torn infrastructures and societies. By the 1950s, Asian countries and societies such as Japan, South Korea and Taiwan became major recipients of US and other international aid as support for institutional and economic development. At that time, development in many African states was the responsibilities of the colonial powers that had political and economic management responsibilities in the colonial territories. With decolonization starting in 1957 and accelerating in the 1960s in sub-Saharan Africa, and at the height of the Cold War, foreign assistance to the region was mainly as support to governments on the basis of their ideological proclivities rather than for institution building and economic development. With the end of the Cold War, the use of foreign assistance as a tool of foreign policy has not changed, but countries like Japan, China and South Korea have joined the club of donor nations in the international system. The question becomes: to what extent are these new donors likely to change the game of foreign assistance to achieve better economic development results than Western aid donors in Africa? This paper examines the hypothesis that to the extent that Western and Asian donors continue the practice of policy transfers that use funding decisions and implementations based on Western and Asian experiences devoid of policy lessons from domestic realities, foreign assistance will remain ineffective as a significant tool for economic development and growth in Africa. The bulk of the paper will focus on a comparative analysis of foreign assistance and policy outcomes in Nigeria and Zambia.

Liberal Economics, Governance, and Official Development Assistance: Empirical Comments on Theoretical Themes

Kalu N. Kalu — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:57:34 PDT

This study presents a comparative analysis of the relative impact of official developmental assistance/foreign aid (ODA) that was given by the OECD countries to select developing countries of the South (sub-Saharan Africa) during the last decade of the Cold War (1980-1990), and the immediate Post-Cold War period (1990-2002). Firstly, this study seeks to illuminate the specific role of foreign aid and its contributory effect in the economic growth and development of these countries between the two time periods, and secondly, delineates specific institutional and governance problems and how these militate against a more effective application of foreign aid or official development assistance. Findings from the data analysis indicate that ODA had no noticeable effect on economic growth as measured by average annual percentage change in GDP growth. While inflation had a negative effect on annual GDP growth during the last decade of the Cold War, it was relatively inconsequential in the period following the end of the Cold War. Only the human development index had a positive impact on annual GDP growth during the post-Cold War years (1990-2002) –suggesting that sub-Saharan Africa countries would need to develop a more robust institutional capacity and human capital skills as a prerequisite for aid effectiveness.

Strategically Sustaining People's Well-being: The Case of Ghanaian Women and Children

George O. Assibey-Mensah — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:57:33 PDT

A government’s commitment to an adopted policy may be the first step that symbolizes its genuine intent to ameliorate the living conditions of its people, particularly the relevant and/or beneficial populations for which the policy was formulated. Ghana’s President J. A. Kufuor’s New Patriotic Party government ended decades of debate about improving the conditions of the vulnerable group of women and children by establishing the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs. This article argues that, in order for the Ghanaian government to sustain efforts to effectively improve the plight of this group, there should be systematic mechanisms that include effective collaboration via sustainable-development, learning-organization, and knowledge-management philosophies. The study provides lessons that have implications for developing economies.

Living without the State: A Rear View Mirror of Nigeria's 50 Years of Independence

Emmanuel Olugbade Ojo et al. — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:57:31 PDT

The purpose of this analysis is twofold. First, it undertakes a critical review of Nigeria’s performance within the five decades of its nationhood. Second, it compares its performance vis-à-vis a number of new states which started almost at the same time in both Africa and Asia using basic economic and political indicators. The article, however, infers that Nigerian political-economic performance is appalling, which has subjected citizens to living almost without the state in all ramifications. For a balanced view, the analysis argues that although there are few giant strides in terms of educational development and reduction in infant mortality as a result of improved health facilities, the gap between intent and actual practices is still very wide. The analysis recommends that the policymakers should visualize the next five decades and formulate appropriate reforms so that Nigeria may not eventually become a failed state.

Resource Control and the Rise of Militia in the Nigerian Delta Region

Chux Ibekwe et al. — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:57:29 PDT

The struggle for resource control in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria has been energized following decades of total neglect of the oil producing region. Since oil in this region contributes substantially to the nation’s economy, many would have expected that the cow that produces the milk will be well fed. Nonetheless, the region is poorly neglected in terms of infrastructural development, environmental protection, and worst of all, human development. This analysis examines why the non-state actors want the control of oil resources in the Niger Delta region, how the conflicting parties have pursued their demands, the effect of the conflicts on the region, Nigeria, and the international community. In sum, the analysis concludes with some policy recommendations for solving the conflict.

Editorial Matter

Andrew I. E. Ewoh — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 06:08:34 PDT

Editorial matter for African Social Science Review vol. 4, no. 1.

Rediscovery of Limited-Purpose Policing in East Africa: The Case of the National Parks and Wildlife Services

James S. E. Opolot — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 06:08:33 PDT

The rediscovery of limited-purpose wildlife police units in East Africa—Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda—has slowly but steadily gained attention of criminologists and law enforcement experts in Africa. This article traces some strands of this development. It does this by critically reviewing the literature on both the regular, traditional policing, and the special-purpose wildlife police units. The review clearly demonstrates several criminological concerns such as limited utilization of concepts, theories, and paradigms as gleaned from the literature on regular, traditional policing and special-purpose wildlife police units; unavailability of relevant information and data in the gray areas; and suggests the adoption of community policing concept as a solution to this problematic situation for a comprehensive police reform.

Strategies for Effective Administration of Environmental Education for Rural Women in Enugu State of Nigeria

Anthonia Ujunwa Nwobi — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 06:08:32 PDT

In the modern science and technology age, the demand on environment can no longer be maintained by haphazard traditional conservation practices. Consequently, there is a need for a more conscious and deliberate form of conservation that will bring about more effective environmental use. This study calls for strategies for effective administration of environmental education for rural women in Enugu State of Nigeria. Three research questions guided the study. The study population consists of 5,658 rural women from 110 autonomous communities, and the sample is made up of 1,400 rural women selected through a multi-stage random sampling technique. The Rural Women Environmental Education Needs Assessment Questionnaire is used to collect data, and the mean and standard deviation were deployed to analyze research questions. The study findings show that rural women in Enugu State of Nigeria require a wide range of environmental education knowledge, skills and attitudes for effective execution of environmental education. The study recommends that government, through its appropriate agents, should initiate effective programs for creating mass awareness by involving rural women on conservation and preservation measures.

Classroom Environment as Correlate of Students’ Cognitive Achievement in Senior Secondary School Igbo Language

Uju Clara Umo — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 06:08:31 PDT

The environment plays an important role in the learning of languages especially Igbo language. Environment as used in this study means all the classroom conditions that facilitate teaching and learning. This analysis, therefore, seeks to find out the relationship between students’ perception of their classroom and their academic achievement in Igbo language. Both human and material resources as well as interaction and attitudinal behavior in the classroom setting make up the classroom environment. In order to carry out this study, two research questions were posed and a null hypothesis was formulated. The design of the study is a correlational survey. The population comprised the entire SSII Igbo language students from five schools drawn randomly from the entire schools in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria. The mean, standard deviation, Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient and t-test statistic were used in analyzing the data. The result revealed that there is an average perception of Igbo language students on their classroom environment. Also, there is a significant relationship between their mean perception and their academic achievement. Based on the findings, some recommendations were made which include that Igbo language teachers should be made aware of the influence of their environment on the achievement of students through seminars and workshops.

The Canada Catholic Church and the Indigenous Canadians of African Descent, 1867–1900

Iheanyi Enwerem — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 06:08:30 PDT

The invisibility or near absence of peoples of African descent in the Canadian Catholic Church remains a curiosity that needs exploring. There is hardly any information on why this is the case. As a matter of fact, little or no studies have been done, not even by Canadian Catholic historians, to address this concern. Furthermore, the religious experience of indigenous African Canadians is often, if not always, discussed within the context of non-Catholic, especially Baptist, religious affiliation. It is as if African Canadians are allergic to Catholicism or never existed on the Canadian soil or, if they existed, their presence and experience are not worth the attention and mention in the historical consciousness of Canadians and Canadian Catholic Church. The paper, therefore, is a precursory enquiry into this anomaly. Also it is a modest attempt to sensitize and create, in the Canadian Catholic Church and society, the necessary awareness of the anomaly and then suggest possible ways of redressing the anomaly.

Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Case Study

Emmanuel Oritsejafor — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 06:08:29 PDT

The purpose of this study is to explore the social and economic factors that led to the recent surge in food prices in Sub-Saharan Africa. The analysis suggests that the surge in food prices results from an increasing demand for food such as dairy products in developing regions. Another contributing factor is the demand for fuel-crops, such as wheat, maize, sugarcane and oilseeds for the production of bio-fuels, bio-electricity, and bio-heat. The analysis finds that these factors have contributed to the global food security with major social and economic implications for Sub-Saharan Africa where poor households survive on less than a dollar a day. In sum, the study contends that social and economic safety nets should be provided to poor households to combat the adverse effects of high food prices, and suggests that sustainable traditional approaches to agricultural development must be adopted in order to better address food security in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Administrative Decentralization: Should Districts and Regions elect their own Leaders in Ghana?

Kwame Antwi-Boasiako — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 06:08:28 PDT

Decentralization, leadership accountability, and empowerment of local leaders in Ghana are the main focus of this analysis. The paper discusses the complexities of decentralization and leadership responsibilities to effect changes toward a better path to socioeconomic development. It examines the problem with the Ghana Constitution as it pertains to local government elections and advocates for a constitutional amendment to empower districts and regions to elect their own leaders so that local governments in each district can be efficient and accountable to the electorate.

Improving Evaluation Capacity in Ghana’s Public Enterprises: Issues and Challenges

Al Bavon — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 06:08:27 PDT

The Government of Ghana in 1989 instituted a performance monitoring and evaluation system (PMES) in the public enterprise sector as part of a national effort to improve the performance of that segment of the economy. Among other things, the PMES was designed to provide information to make informed judgment about the performance of these enterprises. The analysis takes the position that 20 years after its implementation, the PMES has not realized its full potential of providing useful information based on a systematic evaluation to guide policymaking and program implementation. The paper examines why so much attention is paid to monitoring to the detriment of evaluation and suggests corrective measures to help agencies achieve their potential. The lessons learned in this case study have implications for evaluation in other countries in Africa.

Business Improvement Districts and Urban Governance: Prospects and Implementation Opportunities in Enugu, Nigeria

Andrew I. E. Ewoh — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 06:08:26 PDT

Business improvement districts (BIDs) are usually established by the legislature as an innovative approach to deliver public services, and funds to support their operations come from taxation on business premises or special property assessment fees levied on property owners for various improvement activities and services within the geographic area. The major goal of BIDs is to promote employment, commerce, economic development, and public welfare in certain neighborhoods. Generally, BIDs represent a unique form of public-private partnerships. Under these partnerships government can bring private sector businesses including community-based organizations into the management of projects, while safeguarding the accountability of funds and ensuring efficient service delivery. The analysis begins with a brief review of BIDs as an economic development tool. This is followed by a discussion of governing structures, intergovernmental relations, and effectiveness issues as these relate to urban governance. Furthermore, the paper concludes with recommendations on how to implement successful BIDs in the twenty-first century.

Editorial Matter

Andrew I. E. Ewoh — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 07:20:03 PDT