By Donasius Pathera, PhD:
The effectiveness of a government is measured by its ability to enhance the well-being and quality of life of citizens.
Dating back the late 1930s, the government’s role in economic affairs has been significant and cannot be overstated.
The government expenditure continues to serve as a crucial tool for delivering essential public goods and services such as healthcare, education, transportation infrastructure and security to the populace.
In Africa, budgetary frameworks have often been inherited from colonial powers and persisted for decades without significant adaptation to the unique circumstances of each country and era.
This legacy has left many African nations with fragile public finance systems characterised by limited tax base and heavy reliance on domestic taxes and customs duties.
Simultaneously, the pressure to expand public spending, particularly on infrastructure and social programmes, has been intense.
Following independence, government expenditure escalated rapidly, surpassing revenue growth.
While some of this expenditure was justified, a substantial portion of resources was squandered.
Problems such as politically motivated increases in public e m p l o y m e n t and excessive g o v e r n m e n t intervention in economic activities aimed at hastening development and industrialisation exacerbated the situation.
The government subsidies to u n profitable enterprises, coupled with political instability, lack of expertise and pervasive corruption among public officials further exacerbated fiscal challenges.
During the 1970s, the average public deficit in African countries reached 6.4 percent, far exceeding those of Latin America and the Caribbean (4.6 percent) and OECD countries (1.2 percent).
To finance these deficits, African governments heavily relied on external debt, leading to a sharp increase in debt service payments.
The global economic slowdown and the oil price shocks of 1979 and 1980 compounded Africa’s fiscal woes.
External debt burdens became overwhelming, exacerbated by the continent’s heavy dependence on trade revenues, limited policy alternatives and precarious fiscal balances.
These historical trends underscore the need for African nations to reevaluate and reform their public finance management systems.
Addressing the root causes of fiscal instability, including improving revenue generation, enhancing fiscal discipline, and combating corruption, is essential for sustainable economic development and prosperity in the region.
Weak public finance management systems have emerged as formidable obstacles to economic progress and development across African nations. The intricate web of challenges encompasses lackluster tax collection, insufficient oversight in budgetary allocations, and opaque borrowing practices.
The repercussions of these shortcomings reverberate through the socio-economic fabric, hindering the efficient delivery of public goods and services and fostering an environment ripe for corruption and mismanagement.
The statistics paint a stark picture: in 2018, the average tax collection as a percentage of gross domestic product across Africa stood at a meager 16.5 percent, with significant disparities among nations.
While some countries struggle to surpass the 6 percent mark, others boast figures exceeding 30 percent.
Meanwhile, budgetary decisions often favour projects aligning with executive priorities, sidelining critical sectors and exacerbating the misallocation of resources.
Additionally, mounting public debt in several African states raises concerns about transparency and accountability, signaling potential economic instability on the horizon.
Against the backdrop of Africa’s evolving demographics and political landscape, the imperative to address these systemic deficiencies becomes even more pressing.
Yet, the remedy extends beyond mere technical adjustments within treasuries. At its essence, reforming public finance management systems demands a recalibration of the implicit social contract governing fiscal policies.
In this context, electoral dynamics emerge as pivotal drivers, shaping the contours of fiscal decision-making and resource allocation.
The emerging electoral fiscal pact in African nations underscores the symbiotic relationship between political legitimacy and investment in tangible public services.
As citizens increasingly demand access to essential amenities such as infrastructure, education and healthcare, policymakers are compelled to heed these calls to remain viable in the political arena.
Consequently, taxation must be intricately linked with service delivery, while legislative oversight assumes a central role in ensuring public spending aligns with taxpayer priorities.
Embracing a participatory policy making process grounded in democratic principles represents a paradigm shift with profound implications.
While inefficiencies may arise in the short term, they serve as catalysts for institutional growth and democratic consolidation.
Multilateral institutions, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), wield significant influence in this realm.
However, their interventions must be attuned to local realities, cognizant of political incentives, and inclusive of legislative stakeholders.
Furthermore, tackling entrenched perceptions of corruption and opacity necessitates a nuanced approach.
Reforms must transcend conventional anti-corruption measures, delving into the intricate interplay between political patronage, resource allocation and electoral dynamics.
Policy- driven engagements, anchored in locally generated ideas and perspectives, offer a pathway toward building responsive public finance management systems tailored to diverse societal needs.
As Africa grapples with burgeoning populations, urbanisation, and heightened electoral competition the imperative for reform grows ever more urgent.
By embracing the nexus of politics and institutional processes, nations can forge resilient public finance management systems capable of meeting the evolving needs of their citizenry.
Failure to heed this call risks inviting popular discontent and jeopardising the foundations of governance in the region.
In confronting these challenges head-on, African nations have an opportunity to chart a path toward sustainable development, underpinned by accountable governance and inclusive policymaking.
The journey ahead may be arduous, but the dividends of transformative change promise a brighter future for generations to come.
