Commentary - (2021) Volume 10, Issue 2
The main objective of this study was to identify the level of good governance with respect to its founding pillar elements in Oromia Arsi and East shewa zone
selected urban cities. The key elements of good governance considered in the study were accountability, transparency, participation, responsiveness, control
of corruption, operational effectiveness and efficiency, equity building and inclusive, and consensus orientation,. The study followed a survey and focus group
discussion. The data were collected from four selected cities that in Adama, Asella, Batu, and Shashemenne. Analyses were based on primary data generated
through structured questionnaire for each key elements of good governance. Focus group discussion was also conducted with selected informant groups.
Descriptive analyses were specified to identify the current practice of good governance. The focus group discussion data were subject to thematic analyses and
triangulated with the findings from survey analyses. The pillars of good governance such as: accountability, participation, responsiveness, responsibility, efficiency
and effectiveness, equity and consensus orientation, elements observed at low level within the selected city administration. Top priority problems were identified
for respective cities. Fraud with respect to land administration and project authorization are among the top source of corruption. The study proposed pre-symptom
actions and after symptom actions to curb corruption and establish good governance within the city administration.
Good governance , Mitigating strategies , Effective good governance
The “Good Governance Agenda” is becoming an emerging priority in Ethiopia. The Government has officially recognized that there has been a remarkable level of achievement in the area of economic development. However, the journey to good governance is still in its challenging phase. Even though there is a degree of unevenness and important differences across and within municipalities, the lack of good governance is evident in most aspects of the service delivery systems. The problem of good governance affects the whole economic, social and political system. Even the successes achieved in economic development may not be sustainable unless supported by good governance. It is well appreciated that a sufficient threshold of good governance is one of the most critical factors required to sustain gains, to grow system capacity, to witness and benchmark priority strategic goals and to mobilize the potentials within communities and in society, in general. The relative absence of good governance affects all. According to Sigh, good governance does not come by chance rather it must be demanded by citizens and nurtured explicitly and consciously by the Federal and Regional governments at all levels. The observable facts reveal that there are increasing trends of miss governance and unreliable governance and service delivery system in Oromia. As a result, the problem of good governance needs the attention of all stakeholders in ways by which all stakeholders see themselves as having a stake and where they are encouraged to contribute with sense of belongingness and common good. Whenever there is a question not apparently answered administratively, it may be that this is a challenge that requires attention through scientific and systematic inquiry. First, this approach identifies the degree of challenge and then second, it looks for mitigating strategies that provide leverage for change and give priority to those dimensions of good governance that are of paramount importance for regional improvement. citizens but most severely impacts on the lower socio-economic segments. of the society, those who are most venerable and not capable of getting services by any other means. The Transparency International Annual Corruption Perception Index has consistently rated Ethiopia as one of the most corrupt nations in the world. The recent strikes made in different part of Oromia are a good indication for absence of good governance in the region. As a result, there is an urgent and immediate need to formulate region wide and specific strategies that involve all stakeholders (i.e., political and bureaucratic leadership at all levels, policy makers, businesspersons, civil society leaders, and religious leaders) in ways that activate the strong desires and commitments to make good governance a realistic goal. Good governance ensures that organizations are fit for purpose, are well led and managed, establish appropriate appetite for and provisions for risks, and are sustainable in operations and delivery of quality of services, learning from experience, through review benchmarking evidence, and well warranted advice .
The survey findings revealed that elements of good governance are found at about quarter level which need key attention of the leaders at all levels to change the current misgovernance. The findings revealed that corruption is still the leading bottleneck where this seeks engagement of all stakeholders to curb from the bottom- line. Absence of Accountability was rated as the second problem area observed from the investigation. Hence, city administrations need to take a step to ensure accountability for the citizen. Lack of transparency was judged as the third problematic that necessity commitment of the leaders to make the system transparent. In general, except for lack of consensus and equitability elements, others are rated reflecting that good governance practice was down to the bottom. Among the forms of corruption rated, fraud in relation to land administration and fraud in relation to project authorization are the priority where resources are misused or embezzled. Besides, nepotism in employment of officials is the third problematic identified. Hence, these sources of corruption necessitate leader’s intervention to create a system that trusted by the citizen.
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