Laying the foundation for the socio-economic transformation of Africa in the 1990s: the development policy agenda

Abstract

Professor Adebayo Adedeji gave this speech at the formal opening of the twenty-sixth session of the Commission, held at the Commission’s headquarters. This is the last statement made by Professor Adedeji, before he resigned from the position of Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa. The speech highlights the development policy agenda for the 1990’s for Africa in which professor Adedeji also notes that the first issue, which must feature prominently on the development policy agenda, is the imperative necessity of getting Africa’s policy, instruments right. The second issue is the development of the internal capacity and capability to be able to respond to change and to external shocks and the third issue is on how to achieve total and complete congruence between our stated goals and priorities and the allocation and utilization of Africa’s resources.