This paper examines the nature of public administration characterizing Sub- Saharan Africa to reveal some of the lasting impacts it has had in the regions and probe into the constitutional architecture. It showcases the major and often ignored constitutional differences between the former colonies of Britain and France that have unavoidably led to the widening gap between these countries. This paper digs deep into these country’s constitutions to expose the reservations behind semi-presidentialism, which was emulated by these countries, but over the years, has produced very unsimilar results. It then concludes that the complexities surrounding the various problems facing these countries are not far-fetched, but consecrated into the very foundations of these states in the form of patron-client relationships and rent-seeking attitudes.