Nnaemeka Ohamadike

The adage “what gets measured, gets managed” has never been more relevant to Africa’s development. Across the continent, data infrastructure remains underdeveloped compared to other regions, and sub-national data on key socio-economic and political issues is even more scarce – especially in sub-Saharan Africa, often referred to as the “data desert”. While better data exists at the country level and offers a broad overview, it often obscures sub-national disparities that impact urban service delivery, transportation, resource allocation, and socio-economic and political outcomes. Moreover, existing data is often collected inconsistently, creating gaps in time-series data that are vital for identifying trends. This lack…

The “wave of democracy” that swept sub-Saharan Africa after the Cold War faced widespread scepticism, with many viewing it as mere “window dressing” to satisfy Western aid donors. Yet three decades later, as Professor Rod Alence of Wits University notes, African democracies outperform autocratic ones in delivering good governance.Democracy transcends voting – it is a continuous process of public participation, accountability, and transparency. It requires robust institutions and an engaged civil society to thrive. Authentic deliberation and open debate are vital in transparently shaping decision-making processes. Academics Stephan Lewandowsky and John Cook note that one reason we trust democracy as…

AI technologies can help combat disinformation Leanne Manas is a household name in South African television. In late 2023, the morning news presenter’s face appeared in fake news stories and advertisements, where “she” seemingly promoted various products and get-rich-quick schemes. She had fallen victim to “deep faking”. Meanwhile, in Hong Kong, a finance worker was tricked into paying out $25 million in a sophisticated scheme whereby fraudsters impersonated the company’s Chief Financial Officer and other colleagues in a video conference call using deepfake technology. Deepfakes are media that have been digitally manipulated (typically using artificial intelligence) to replace one’s likeness. This does not…

Most Africans want the news media to investigate and report government mistakes and corruption.  However, in African countries with higher corruption levels than lower ones, citizens are more concerned about the harm excessive reporting brings to their country. Over the past few decades, corruption has been an endemic issue confronting many African countries. The media is instrumental in combating corruption through investigative journalism, informing the public, and promoting accountability, as demonstrated in African countries like South Africa, Ghana, and Nigeria. For instance, in South Africa, news reports on large-scale corruption and clientelism at the highest levels prompted the Office of the Public…

Most Africans want the news media to investigate and report government mistakes and corruption. However, in African countries with higher corruption levels than lower ones, citizens are more concerned about the harm excessive reporting brings to their country. Over the past few decades, corruption has been an endemic issue confronting many African countries. The media is instrumental in combating corruption through investigative journalism, informing the public, and promoting accountability, as demonstrated in African countries like South Africa, Ghana, and Nigeria. For instance, in South Africa, news reports on large-scale corruption and clientelism at the highest levels prompted the Office of the Public…

The African food and water security landscape faces a significant challenge. Despite its vast agricultural potential and abundant water resources, the continent continuously faces issues of hunger and water scarcity. This is clear from the mean value of 0.26 on the food and water security index, with many countries falling below this mark (Figure 1). The index operates on a scale from 0 to 1, where higher scores denote better security. To tackle these issues, it is vital to leverage, among other things, data-driven approaches that can enhance agricultural planning, resource allocation, risk management, and overall governance.In recent years, there…

In recent years, the global call for a just energy transition has grown louder as concerns over climate change, environmental degradation, and the need for access to equitable clean energy intensify. However, the reality, as depicted in Figure 1 of this article, remains that numerous African countries still face a deficit in terms of clean energy access for their populations. In 2020, Africa had a clean energy access rate of 29.08%, while the global rate was 69.57%. Despite these challenges, data for the past two decades in Africa have revealed the emergence of good governance as a pivotal driving force…