Good government plays an important role in the development process, and requires the highest standards of integrity, openness and transparency. The main requisites for good governance include: (1) political legitimacy for the state through democratic elections and transfer of power and an effective political opposition and representative government,
(2) accountability and transparency in the sharing of information, (3) separation of powers, (4) effective internal and external audit, (5) effective means of combating
corruption and nepotism, (6) competence of
public servants, (7) impartial and accessible
justice systems; and (8) the absence of
arbitrary government power.1 Action towards
curtailing corruption is perceived as a
commitment towards creating good
government. As such, discussion of
corruption is almost always conducted
within the framework of good governance.