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This work talks about legislating for positive change. The African continent exceeds in size and natural resources the combined territories of Europe, the United States and China. Yet most Africans struggle just to survive. The authors of Africa's Challenge describe the experiences of different African countries, underscoring the need to use law to transform Africa's inherited institutions. Raymond Atuguba describes how, for almost half a century after independence, Ghana's police force still mainly buttressed elite state power. Teodosio Uate demonstrates how, despite a 1997 law calling for citizen engagement in environmental protection, the inherited drafting system had thwarted the drafter's attempts to prescribe clearly and precisely what officials must do to realise popular participation. The list is endless. Without sensible legal change, Africa will suffer the consequences of inherited systems built ramshackle and on the fly according to principles of individual greed and ad hoc manipulation. The essays contained herein offer practical critiques of a problem that has plagued a continent for far too long.

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9781592214716

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Ann Seidman and Robert B. Seidman have conducted research and taught courses relating to law and development in Africa since 1962. Now at Boston University's School of Law, they have served as consultants in projects to strengthen legislative drafting capacity and law-making institutions in over 20 countries. Pumzo Mbana, a South African lawyer, has co-edited Africas Challenge as a part of his second year project as a Fulbright Scholar in the Brandis University MA programme. Hanson Hu Li graduated from Peking University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology before attending law school at Boston University.

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