The role of records management in ensuring good governance in Africa

Abstract

Proper records management is central to the promotion of good governance. Africa is a continent which has generally been riddled with poor governance. Principles of good governance such as accountability, transparency and the rule of law are ascertained with available records. Poor records management practices promote bad economic practices such as corruption and fraud. An assessment of the performance of government can thus be realised through proper records management and access to information. Good records management practices therefore lead to good governance and vice versa; thus, the role of records management in promoting good governance cannot be overemphasised. However, there are some likely impediments that may hinder the promotion of good governance through records management in the African context. This paper explored the role played by records management in ensuring good governance in Africa. It then suggests strategies to promote good governance through proper records management practices. The paper contends that outdated archival laws, backlog of unprocessed records and absence of access to information laws in some African countries are the major impediments to the promotion of good governance. The paper recommends an amendment of outdated laws and the promulgation of access to information legislation as major initiatives, among others, which put records management in the forefront of promoting good governance in the continent.

Archives and records management strategies to support academic service delivery at the Universities of Witwatersrand and Universities of Venda

“…A study by Akporhonor (2011) found ineffective records management and recommended that state university libraries create records because of their historical, financial and evidential value. This implied that the development of a records management strategy must be based on ISO 15489 -2016 (Mosweu & Rakemane 2019). ISO 15489 -2016 emphasises linking records management strategy to legal, policy regulatory framework, an appropriate organisational structure, awareness, raising, capacity building and proper records storage.…”

Massive open online courses (MOOCs): a tool for intercontinental collaboration in archives and records management education in Eswatini

“…It should be noted that while Wamukoya and Mutula (2005, p. 75) highlighted the aforementioned challenges as key factors affecting the development of the ARM sector in Africa, Mosweu and Rakemane (2020) also reemphasized poor records management due to a myriad of factors including but not limited to skills, budgets and technology. The root causes of problems associated with ARM in Africa is the lack of ARM education in most HEIs.…”

A Model for Effective Management of Students Records in the Academic Registrars’ Offices in Kenyan Universities

“…Some of these institutions have even issued fake academic degrees (Wanzala, 2017). Mosweu and Rakemane (2020) opine that corruption is a result of poor records management. Proper management of records, therefore, stands as a major step toward sealing loopholes leading to this terrible monster that can devour a society (Katekwe & Mutsagondo, 2018).…”