ABSTRACT
The term accountability describes the requirement for answerability regarding
the exercise of functions, powers and duties. It is an incremental element of
representative democracy and good governance. Accountability implies restric-
tion, careful monitoring and vigorous scrutiny of governmental powers. Compe-
titive elections are deemed the ultimate measure of governmental accountability
in democratic political systems. The elected representatives exercise decision-
making powers on behalf of their electorate, to whom they are subsequently
accountable. Transparency is, therefore, an essential part of government
accountability. Institutional arrangements ensuring accountability in political
systems include ministerial responsibility, collective responsibility, etc., and where
these are seen to have failed, they give way to other mechanisms that allow
for accountability, such as parliamentary investigations and public inquiries.
