This paper analyses how economic factors shape public attitudes toward transparent and accountable governance in Africa, a topic that has been underexplored. While many policies and programmes have been implemented to combat corruption and promote accountability in Africa, little is known about how economic factors shape Africans’ perceptions of these principles. We investigate this using data from Afrobarometer Round 8 surveys conducted in 34 African countries. Our results show the significant role of economic factors in shaping attitudes. While being a citizen of a wealthy African country can decrease support for transparent and accountable governance, living in a less affluent country increases the odds of prioritising it. The study not only unearths the role of economic factors in shaping public attitudes toward the two governance ideals but also highlights challenges and opportunities that arise from this nexus.