AGC Executive Chair Urges Political Parties to Prepare for Government Before Winning Elections

Addressing the Second African Political Parties Summit in Addis Ababa, Africa Governance Centre Executive Chair Benedicta Lasi called on political parties to build the policy expertise, institutional capacity and leadership skills required to govern before they assume office, rather than only after winning elections.

As reported by Fana Media Corporation, she said: “An election can place a party in government overnight, but it cannot supply overnight knowledge required to run a ministry, negotiate a major contract, or manage the national economy.”

Ms Lasi stressed that Africa's development ambitions, including industrial capacity, power systems and agricultural productivity, require continuity beyond four- or five-year electoral terms. She identified party schools, research institutions and policy institutes as essential platforms for testing proposals and preparing future public officials.

She described the African Political Parties Initiative, established by the Africa Governance Centre and launched in Accra on 7 March 2025, as a continental platform for parties to exchange experience on policy preparation, governing and the transfer of knowledge across political transitions. She also referred to the intercontinental dialogue launched in Seoul in September, with plans to continue the engagement in Türkiye next year.

Citing Ethiopia's investments in infrastructure and energy, and Ghana's Gold Board initiative as an example of a policy proposal that survived an electoral change, she highlighted the link between political preparedness and national economic performance. She noted Africa's annual development financing gap of more than 400 billion dollars and the importance of stronger engagement between the African Union and political parties in sustaining Agenda 2063 and the AfCFTA.

Ms Lasi also announced the Centre's intention to advance an African Political Parties Agenda 2040, setting standards in areas including internal democracy, national development visions, leadership training and the participation of women and young people.