Credit to Photo Facebook/President of Mauritius – Prithvirajsing Roopun.
By African Exponent
The continent of Africa is still at its infancy in terms of development.
The wholesome performance of a country in terms of its national growth and development reflects the good governance tendencies of its President, the leader of the nation. Critical indicators determine the sterling governance of the top most performing presidents in Africa.
The continent of Africa is still at its infancy in terms of development, distraught by crippled health and social services, an unbalanced and ineffective education system, and mal-functioning economies.
The following indicators and indexes determine these rankings; United Nations’ Human development index, Transparency International Corruption perception index, integrity, and anti-corruption indicators, and other factors such as national policy choices, a robust infrastructure, solid educational system, lawlessness, and political instability and comprehensive health and social services.
10. President of Zambia – H. E Hakainde Hichilema
A country currently recognized for its relative political tolerance, amicable relations with neighboring countries, and relatively low level of violent crimes. A president who inherited an empty treasury has done the most to rebuild the image of the nation of Zambia. Hichilema has less than a year in power.
To many critics, his reform agenda seemed impossible to fulfill after inheriting an empty treasury. But instead, he has made considerable strides to the developmental plan by declaring a zero-tolerance approach to corruption and a new set of reforms. Indeed it sets a platform for investor confidence against a backdrop of inheriting huge debt lines and complicated rings of bribery.
Its Human Development Index, as calculated by World Population Review, is at 58. Moreover, they are the 5th safest country in Africa, according to the Global Peace Index. The Zambian Economic Outlook is pegged at a 2.0% increase in 2022. After a contraction of 1.2% in 2020. There has been a recent inflation rate drop. An indication that Hichilema is working overtime.
9. President of Ghana – H. E William Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo
Ghana is one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa. The 4th safest country in Africa, amid comments of Jihadists groups threats in the West region. His excellence Akufo-Addo is a pan-Africanist who has been quoted advocating for the Afro-agenda. Such as the liberation of the vaccine, saying less than 2 percent of vaccines administered worldwide have been in Africa at the Paris Summit on the financing of African countries.
According to Trading economics, his strategic economic agenda in 2021 expanded the Ghana economy by 3,9% versus a 3.1% increase last year. He has resiliently fought a recession instability suffered in the past decade. His policy of covid-19 alleviation and revitalization of enterprises and support program is going to boost industrialization.
President Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is setting an example for younger African leaders and setting up Ghana for growth.
8. President of Kenya – Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta
President Uhuru Kenyatta is the son of the former president Jomo Kenyatta. Kenyatta and South African president Cyril Ramaphosa are some of the few presidents who have been unashamedly outspoken about the need for unity, peace, and tolerance in the African community. Under the leadership of Kenyatta last year, the Kenyan government made commitments to the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change to reduce emissions by 32% by 2030. However, with most African countries operating in difficulty due to the Corona pandemic, it’s a different story for the Kenyan economy.
According to the World Bank 2021 report, the economy is projected to recover and grow above 5%. As a result, Kenya has a Human Development Index of 0.601, ranking at 143 globally as confirmed by the United Nations Development Programme Reports.
Kenyatta’s name comes with a lot of dark history. He has never been a friend of the West because of the history he inherited.
7. President of Rwanda – Paul Kagame
Rwanda is coming from a dark history of genocide and recovering from a dent in broken-down society. President Paul Kagame has done nothing but the best to build a development agenda-focused country. He has been at the forefront of advocating for peace in Rwanda. Unlike in 2020, 2021 is set for recovery. Kagame has managed to foster improvements in the business environment and investment in major growth sectors.
Rwanda has made huge strides towards infrastructural development. Currently, the country’s Human Development Index is at 0.543, a medium development index mark which is remarkable for a country still recovering from a tarnished history and wrong foreign perception. He is championing an excellent brand strategy towards improving the perception of Rwanda.
Rwanda is the 4th least corrupt country in Africa. As a result, in 2021, the government has realized a GDP growth rate of 4.5%, an improvement from last year’s contraction of 0.1%.
Moreover, there is an indication of a robust and responsive health system. The Kagame-led country is 6th in Africa in terms of vaccinations administered. Fact enough that he is pro-development.
6. President of Egypt – Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi
The Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi-led country is the 8th most developed country in Africa, endowed with high indications of a Human Development Index of 0.707. The economy has experienced annual growth of 7.20% in 2021. Moreover, according to the World Bank, there has been a decline in unemployment to 7.3% versus a year-on-year peak of 9.6%.
Egypt has a peace Index of 1.95, which is above average. An indication that the President has fought political instability and the level of crimes in the country.
5. President of South Africa – Cyril Ramaphosa
South Africa will be the 7th most developed country in Africa in 2021. With a Human Development Index of 0.709. Cyril Ramaphosa, a successful former businessman, has only served one term as the South African President, but his achievements are sterling. In 2021 alone,
S.A has so far experienced a GDP annual growth rate of 19.30%, pegging it as one of the best. In addition, it is showing a sizeable recovery from the covid-19 pandemic garnering a 1.2% growth rate. Ramaphosa is one of the presidents who has been brave about the plight of African countries, such as the raising Afrophobia, calling out Western countries to drop the travel bans on African nationalities. South Africa has been able to build a responsive health system, especially during the Covid-19 era. There were the first country to detect and confirm the new variant Omnicron.
According to Business Chief EMEA, South Africa is the top exporting country in Africa, holding 19.1%. President Ramaphosa is building South Africa into a powerhouse.
4. President of Algeria – Abdelmadjid Tebboune
Algeria is currently the 3rd most developed country in Africa in 2021, with a Human Development Index, which is high pegged at 0.748. An improvement from 2020. The President Tebboune-led country has a 2021 exporting share of 7.6%, the 4th highest in Africa. According to Trading Economics, Algeria achieved a GDP Annual Growth Rate of 6.40%.
These indicators and indexes represent the performance of the Algerian President. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has only served one term but has made sterling work. He is focused on accelerating reforms to protect the Algerian economy.
3. President of Morroco – Kais Saied
Saied is an accomplished president leading Tunisia to unquestionable development. Tunisia is the 4th most developed country in Africa according to current rankings. The government has one of the highest per capita incomes in the country. According to Trading Economics, Tunisia achieved a GDP growth rate of 0.7%, a considerable difference from the previous one.
President Saied’s country is one of the safest countries, ranking at an index of 2, above average. He has ensured to build an investor-friendly country. He is scaling heights to make Morroco a global giant.
2. President of Seychelles – Wavel Ramkalawan
President Wavel Ramkalawan is both a politician and a priest. He has been in this leadership position since 2020. The least corrupt country in Africa in 2021 speaks volumes of the moral and ethical beliefs of the President.
Furthermore, Seychelles is the second most developed country in Africa, with a Human Development Index of 0.796, indicating that the country is doing well in terms of Adult Literacy Rate, Life expectancy to income equality, and Mobile phone subscriptions. The Ramkalawan led government has achieved a GDP Annual growth rate of 14.30% and a low employment rate.
1. President of Mauritius – Prithvirajsing Roopun
Mauritius, led by President Roopun, is considered to have a very high human development index. In addition, the multicultural island has a Global Peace Index ranking of 24. This performance is attributed to its leadership. Moreover, it has the second-highest Industrial Production of 45.9, as stated by Trading Economics.
According to the World Bank ease of doing business index, Mauritius has a rating of 81.5 and is ranked 13 on the global rankings. Making it a top and safe environment for doing business.
Africa is a land with fertile soils and rich in minerals. It is upon the leaders of the land to build value out of the natural resources. This thought-out list shows some of the leaders in Africa working towards making the continent rich and a global giant.