The Opportunities and Challenges of Good Governance in Tigray National Regional State: The Case of Mekelle City

Abstract

Good governance has the critical aim of promoting equity, increasing the quality of public service and economic growth. In this paper the scope of good governances are limited to basic elements of good governance like rule of law, participation, accountability, transparency, efficiency, responsiveness and effectiveness to assess the opportunities and challenges of good governance in court, finance and economic development and land administration offices in Tigray National Regional State specifically in Mekelle city administration. However, the opportunities and challenges of good governance in the identified areas still lack investigation. Therefore, the objective of this study is to examine the opportunities and challenges of good governance in Tigray National Regional State specifically in Mekelle city administration.The data collected via desk reviews, key informants and personal observation were critically analyzed. Consequently, the country’s constitution clearly indicates that functions of government at all levels shall be transparent and officials shall be accountable to the people unless officials shall be questioned. Further, the government is addressing the issues of good governance in its policies and plans. However, the collective action problems are occurred at multiple levels. Courts are also not fully equipped with the necessary number of skilled manpower at the some sub-cities are undermining good governance that effectively generate healthy services in the city. The communities in the city are also not fully informed what the city administration has been planned. Civil service reform program problems and corruption are also impeding the implementation of good governance. Service delivery on stated time and providing decision based on realistic evidence are hardly practiced in city. Lack of responsiveness, transparency, low interaction between stakeholders, lack of commitment and motivation of leaders and experts in city to facilitate the implementation of good governance are identified as the most impediments to good governance.

Keywords: Opportunities, Challenges, Good Governance