Effective Leadership and Good Governance: An Ethics Reflection on Development and Social Transformation in Africa Based on Jürgen Moltmann’s Theology and Alvin Toffler’s Theory for the 21st Century

Abstract

Global and local leadership is mechanical, individualistic and more personal. Elections
are not longer just, free, fair, and credible. Africa lags far behind in development and
social transformation. Perhaps due to lack of dogma, African problems, especially
draconian governance and challenges prevail. Africa has imited opportunities for growth
and transformation. Africa cries for ethics in managing the expectations of the citizens.
African politicians have reduced permanent problems to ignorance, diseases and poverty,
leaving out Spiritual lostness and ego-centric leadership. This study focuses on: (i) the
place of God to individual and social-economic development, (ii) the place of God to
effective leadership, good governance and social transformation. The ills in African
politics are rampant because giant problems namely spiritual lostness and ego-centric
leadership are not addressed. Bad governance is harmful to the well-being all
generations. The objective of this study is to facilitate recognition of God as the centrestage of good governance, good governance, development and social transformation. The
methodology used in this study was Jürgen Moltmann’s theology and the theory was
Alvin Toffler’s theory of the 21st Century. Africa needs ethics in good governance.
Corruption and inequality are addressed via ethics, because ethics means doing the right
thing at the right time in the right way matching the system and the actors. For long time
Africa sees dealers and not leaders, transformation is possible if we have leader, and
unfortunately dealers are interested in power, property, prestige, popularity, and
pomposity, but leaders avoid all these. This study concludes that God was, God is, and
God has to continually be behind development and social transformation. The cardinal
reasons of seeking effective leadership and good governance is social transformation. If
God takes a centre stage, African will have meaningful existence in terms of rule of law
and justice and inclusivity. The doctrine of God enhances sanctity and dignity of life.
UNDP characteristics of good governance system encourage ethical conduct.