Law Commons^™

The Separation Of Powers, Constitutionalism And Governance In Africa: The Case Of Modern Cameroon, John Mukum Mbaku

JOHN MUKUM MBAKU

The Separation of Powers, Constitutionalism and Governance in Africa: The Case of Modern Cameroon

John Mukum Mbaku, Esq.

Abstract

Countries incorporate the principle of the separation of powers in their constitutions in an effort to meet several goals, the most important of which is to minimize government-induced tyranny. Specifically, countries that make this principle part of their constitutional practice intend to limit public servants by national laws and institutions, enhance government accountability, minimize opportunistic behaviors by civil servants and politicians, provide for checks and balances, and generally improve government efficiency. Cameroon, like many other African countries that transitioned to democratic …

Providing A Foundation For Wealth For Wealth Creation And Development In Africa: The Role Of The Rule Of Law, John Mukum Mbaku

JOHN MUKUM MBAKU

PROVIDING A FOUNDATION FOR WEALTH CREATION AND DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA: THE ROLE OF THE RULE OF LAW JOHN MUKUM MBAKU ABSTRACT This paper examines the struggle in Africa to alleviate and eventually eradicate poverty. It is argued that the most effective way for African countries to deal with poverty is to create wealth. Unfortunately, these countries have not been able to create the wealth that they need to confront poverty. This is due primarily to the fact that since independence, these countries have not been able to undertake democratic institutional reforms to create and adopt institutional arrangements that guarantee and …

Law, Institutions And Corruption Cleanups In Africa, John Mukum Mbaku

JOHN MUKUM MBAKU

SINCE INDEPENDENCE, VIRTUALLY ALL AFRICAN COUNTRIES HAVE suffered and continue to suffer from extremely high rates of bureaucratic corruption. Today, corruption remains one of the most important constraints to social, political and economic development. Despite the efforts made, in several countries, to deal with corruption and other forms of political opportunism (e.g., rent seeking), these phenomena remain entrenched in these countries and continue to constrain entrepreneurship and creation of the wealth that is needed to deal with extremely high rates of poverty and material deprivation. Part of the reason why many African countries have not been able to effectively cleanup …

Copyright And Democratization In Africa, John Mukum Mbaku

JOHN MUKUM MBAKU

Since the 1960s, Africans have been struggling to deepen and institutionalize democracy. The two most important factors that can help African countries democratize their politics are a robust civil society and a democratic culture. This paper argues that an effective copyright law can be used to bring about these two factors, which are critical to democracy and democratization in the continent.

The International Dimension Of Africa's Struggle Against Corruption, John Mukum Mbaku

JOHN MUKUM MBAKU

Even after more than fifty years of independence, corruption remains one of the most important obstacles to the improvement of the human condition in Africa. In recognition of corruption’s role in poverty and underdevelopment in Africa, African countries have adopted the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption to serve as a legal tool to fight corruption and its deleterious effects on development efforts in the continent. Additionally, African countries have become Signatory Parties to other anti-corruption conventions, including the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, with the expectation that these conventions will help them in their efforts to deal …

Copyright And Democratization In Africa, John Mukum Mbaku

JOHN MUKUM MBAKU

Since the 1960s, Africans have been struggling to deepen and institutionalize democracy. The two most important factors that can help African countries democratize their politics are a robust civil society and a democratic culture. This paper argues that an effective copyright law can be used to bring about these two factors, which are critical to democratization in the continent.