EFFECTIVE PUBLIC POLICY AND GOVERNANCE: A Practice-Oriented Analysis of Successes and Lessons Learned in African Contexts

This chapter discusses the factors that contribute to effective policy-making in Africa. It analyses three case studies from Nigeria and Ghana covering different policy areas such as education, economic development, and social welfare. The first case study explores Ghana’s free senior high education policy. Although the policy has successfully increased enrolment, it has faced some challenges. The discussion explores the factors that contributed to the policy’s success. The second case study examines Nigeria’s compulsory entrepreneurship education policy, which was introduced in 2006 to encourage entrepreneurial interest among undergraduates. The policy achieved its intended outcome but with some limitations regarding persistence and quality. Its discussion evaluates the policy and its limitations. The third case study focuses on Nigeria’s policy, which criminalised street hawking in Lagos. The policy aimed to decrease street hawking, but it was unsuccessful. The chapter identifies four theories that explain this policy failure. It concludes by proposing a comprehensive and fact-based approach to policy assessment and implementation. It concludes by providing practical insights for policymakers, practitioners, and scholars interested in policy design and implementation in Africa and promoting policy success.