<p>The recent pandemic that was experienced in 2019 known as the Covid-19 pandemic, and the political turmoil, the Russia-Ukraine war, have heightened pre-existing challenges undermining the quest for economic growth and welfare in Africa. Institutional reforms have been proposed as the potential fundamental missing factor that underlies the proximate differences across countries. To provide empirical context and advance the frontiers of institutional economics in Africa, this paper assesses the linkages that exist between institutional quality, economic growth and welfare. The paper also examines specific types of institutions that are desirable for economic growth and welfare. The study achieved these objectives with the use of panel data covering 52 African economies over the period 2000–2023 for the analysis. The System Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) and Method of Moments Quantile Regression (MMQR) estimation techniques were employed for the analysis. Our results show that institutional quality promotes economic growth and enhances welfare. Although a positive relationship is apparent, the result of the quantile regression shows that the impact of institutional quality is more relevant at lower and mid quantiles of economic growth and welfare than at higher quantiles. In addition, the study found out that, political stability, control of corruption, promotion of regulatory quality, strict enforcement of rule of law, effective governance and absence of violence are instrumental in promoting economic growth and welfare. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) such as effective leadership, quality education, descent work, key institutional reforms, good health and growth of economies among African countries are relevant towards securing better future for the continent.</p>