Improvement in leadership and participation is needed in order to achieve sustainable development in Africa, panelists at the second International Conference on Democratic Governance in Africa, Asia and Middle East, in Kigali, said yesterday.

"Leadership is a serious concern on the African continent and it’s not just political leadership but leadership across society,” said Geraldine Moleketi, special gender envoy at the African Development Bank.

Moleketi, along with fellow panelists Oluwole Owoye, from Western Connecticuit State University, and United Nations Resident Coordinator Lamin Manneh, highlighted leadership and participation as key issues on the African continent.

The conference attracted scholars, politicians and entrepreneurs from across the world.

Quoting a book titled; ‘Can Africa Claim the 21st Century?’ Manneh made a link between high political participation and economic growth.

"Improving governance and conflict resolution are perhaps the most basic requirements for sustainable development in Africa, and countries that have made significant strides  in political participation are also the ones with better economic management,” he said.

Manneh cited Rwanda as one of the countries with high levels of political participation.

Promoting accountability from up to bottom, enhancing citizen participation in social, political and economic matters as well as encouraging peer learning were among the recommendations made.

Organised by Rwanda Governance Board (RGB), the United Nations and Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, the three-day conference which sought to explore constraints to good governance, as well as emerging opportunities for democratic governance.

The conference offers  scholars and decision-makers from across Africa, Asia and the Middle East opportunity to share insights about how to improve good governance in their countries.