Mr Alfred Sallia Fawundu, UN Resident Co-ordinator and former UNDP Resident Representative in Guinea Bissau, Benin and Ghana, said governance should involve leadership at all levels and not relegated to politicians alone, to ensure shared responsibility in the conduct of public affairs.
He noted: " Head of States or politicians do not attend special schools to acquire training to enable them to manage or administer the affairs of their countries."
They have the same background and experience just like other people in their communities. We should not expect politicians to behave conscientiously while other people or opinion leaders behave otherwise. "
Mr Fawundu, who was speaking to the GNA in an interview at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, on Thursday said, "rule-based governance is distinct from authoritarian based governance."
He, therefore, urged African governments to ensure good governance, transparency, accountability and the participation of citizens in topical national matters.
Mr Fawundu appealed to Africans to assist in strengthening and empowering state institutions such as the Police and Judiciary that serve as pillars of democracy.
He said, "Unlike governments which come and go, bodies mandated to ensure law and order, justice, peace and stability, necessary for enhancing democracy, remain unchanged."
Mr Fawundu noted that corruption was pervasive in many African countries, but curbing the practice had proved futile because in some instances there were no explicit laws to deal with allegations of bribery and dishonesty.
He said: "in Africa everyone seems to be taking about mismanagement, dishonesty and fraud but at times those accused of omissions or commissions are left off the hock because there might not be exact rules and laws to deal with such cases."
Mr Fawundu, therefore, suggested that Parliaments of African countries should define clearly what constituted corruption and to enact specific legislations to ensure the effective fight against corruption.
He expressed regret that even some of those countries, having explicit laws on corruption applied them selectively owing to institutional weakness and outmoded and unjust values.
Mr Fawundu said perceived acts of corruption seem to reflect the values of society and must be regulated in accordance with rule-based conduct of public affairs.

From Clemence Okumah, GNA, Special Correspondent, Cambridge, United Kingdom