Nigeria and Ghana: A Comparative Study in Governance and Development

Abstract

A recent BBC debate on the future of the African continent monitored in Benin City, hinges the development of the
continent on good govemance and developmental strides expected to be spear-headed by three countries. Libya to the North, South Africa in the south and Ghana in the West. Nigeria was excluded Again a recent data on the influx of foreign investments to West Africa indicated that investors including Nigerians in the last eight years preferred Ghana to Nigeria, in spite of both nations practicing democratic system of Government. These facts goaded this comparative study, to reveal the factors responsible for the preference of Ghana to Nigeria. The study revealed that on both the HDI and HPI, good governance, the rule of law and development, Ghana is ahead of Nigeria. A further inquest on these variables indicated that there are standards of governance which had been set in Ghana in which all government at both the national and regional levels seek to surpass. Thus the quality of governance affects development in all respect, thereby attracting investors to Ghana than Nigeria. The study concluded that Nigeria should also set a stern norm against corruption which is the valve through which ‘altruism ’ was re-introduced to the body politics of Ghana and as a panacea to Nigeria's development in the democratic dispensation. This is one way for Nigerians to obtain democratic dividends as in Ghana.