The essence of good governance
A few weeks ago, I was in Strasbourg, France, attending a meeting of the Anglican Roman Catholic International Dialogue. Established in the 1960s to facilitate a pilgrimage towards unity, the two churches are currently on a journey to discern right ethical teaching and the dialogue is part two of a broader approach. Part one focused on the nature of the Church. With the group very close to completing its work, in anticipation that the completed volume will enhance the move towards unity of the two churches, the time in Strasbourg was used not only to move the process along but also to see some landmarks of the city.
One of these landmarks is the European Parliament building, outstanding in architecture, a sight to behold and a must-see for those visiting this area. It is home to the activities of the members of Parliament and the President, all representing their constituencies across the European block. Its architectural brilliance, according to our tour guide, represents openness, transparency and probity. This is reinforced by the fact that the entire building, at least from the outside, is made of transparent glass, evident from the outside and even more pronounced while on the inside. The Parliament building, therefore, must be viewed, in the context of the country of France with the watchwords, liberty, equality and fraternity, as symbolizing transparent governance within the European Union (EU).
This symbol of openness is in stark contrast to a situation of which I was reminded recently. On the west coast of Ghana stands the dark, damp and depressing dungeon which was used to house Africans, captured in the seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, to be shipped in sub human conditions to the West Indies, South and North America. Africans, many of whom were of royal lineage and persons of high standing in their societies were subject to inhumane conditions, and even at present, those who visit the site, describe the eerie feeling experienced in view of this very dark (no pun intended) side of human history. Above the dungeon was a church which was first operated by Catholics from Portugal and then later protestants from Netherlands, however, in both instances worshippers were able to look down on the plight of the Africans and were comfortable ignoring one reality (oppression and injustice) while embracing another (salvation and righteousness).
Such bifurcation of reality indicates that transparency does not mean the same thing at all times and, viewed from a position of the dignity of the human being, the construction of the European Parliament building of glass, means the principle and practice of openness with the goal of promoting human flourishing, is critical at all times. At the same time, in the case of the Cape Coast Castle in Ghana, the challenge was a lack of good conscience in governance. While there was transparency, as all saw Africans in captivity, there was a lack of openness to the truth of the gospel as told by Jesus, such as in the sermon described in Luke 4 in which Jesus affirmed a place of dignity for foreigners, prisoners and captives. Openness or good governance does not just mean to see, in this instance worshippers observing Black people in bondage, it also means viewing activities or taking a stand for those who suffer or are experiencing oppression of any kind.
Good governance, in this sense, is a system and process operating in institutions where the results generated from various interventions are used to meet the needs of society while at the same time making the best use of available resources. Put another way, good governance is drawing on the best an institution has to offer, such as personnel and resources, in order to be of service to stakeholders on the inside and outside. Good governance, therefore, turns the spotlight on the way institutions function, especially in the way they treat their own and then the quality of interactions they engage in with outsiders, especially the most vulnerable.
In the case of the European Parliament, learning from a long history of bloodshed, genocide, starvation and injustices, especially as a consequence of two world wars, the building and the activities which take place within it symbolize transparency both for Europeans and for those on the outside. At the same time, there is no denying that the building represents nations and governments that were very involved in the unjust capture, incarceration and trans-shipment of Africans to the Americas and elsewhere. A glass exterior does not erase that history and the present call for reparations by the descendants of Africans, forcibly removed from their homes and enslaved, will not be forgotten simply because of a glass façade for the EU Parliament building. On the contrary, good governance requires that EU parliamentarians recognize they are ‘worshipping on top’ of hundreds of years of exploitation and the churches in these countries must not be left out of the equation as they too must account for past misdeeds.
To be effective, good governance requires three elements to foster and maintain a sense of openness and justice. First, good governance is transparency. It is open to insiders and outsiders and there is a willingness by leaders to make available all records, transactions, systems and processes so that everyone, including the most vulnerable, may benefit from information that will facilitate their individual and social transformation. Second, good governance requires accountability. This is similar to transparency in that there’s the element of sharing information, however it requires detailed explanations for various actions and activities and those in charge must be subject to questions and investigations must be pursued, where necessary, in order to provide responses to the public where required and/or requested. A thir and final element of good governance is participation. What would good governance be if it did not provide spaces, places, opportunities and the relevant, capable and competent persons to enable as wide a participation as possible in the governance process? In Jamaica we say ‘one hand can’t clap, which means, two or more persons are required to enable a system or institution to function effectively. Likewise, participation is key if any society or nation is to succeed and flourish.
Steps to prevent a recurrence of what happened at the Elmina Castle, Cape Coast in Ghana and stop new methods of human trafficking and exploitation of minorities all require good governance at all levels. To do this, leaders must embrace openness and transparency, symbolized by the glass exterior of the European Parliament building, but must go further. Of necessity good governance requires a focus on respect for individuals, families, communities and nations in order for true and lasting development to be achieved.
Re. Garth Minott is the suffragan bishop of Kingston.
