Incorporating Effectiveness and Accountability for Member Good: Possible Choices for Cooperatives in Sub-Sahara Africa

Abstract

Cooperatives are multifaceted phenomena that add value to the members, communities and economies at large. Cooperatives in comparison with profit-maximizing investor-owned firms are considered better at coping with economic crises, driving economic development and promoting social inclusion among communities. However, cooperatives are saddled with several imperatives challenging their effectiveness, accountability, transparency and organisational integrity for the provision of member goods. Members remain the foundation of the cooperatives. Despite, the cooperative organisational structure, the model has come under blistering criticism for not living up to the "member good maximization", a situation which undermines cooperative good governance and sustainability. Thus, this paper, accordingly, recommended that it is expedient that cooperatives in the region be strengthened for effectiveness through continued education and made a case for incorporating effectiveness and accountability in cooperatives in the region, to better serve the member good.