Working group on the implementation of Addis Ababa plan of action for statistical development in Africa in the 1990s: opening statement

Abstract

This opening statement delivered by Professor Adebayo Adedeji, United Nations Under–Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ECA on the working group on the implementation of Addis Ababa plan of action for statistical development in Africa in the 1990s. Professor Adedeji, on his remarks highlighted that; statistical development remains an area of great concern to the African region. This is so because, despite some improvements in the availability of statistics in a number of African countries since the 1960s, such statistics are very often out-of-date and at best inadequate both in scope and quality. In addition, he emphasized that national statistical units should ensure the co-ordination of their activities. It is not uncommon to find work being duplicated in different sections of the same statistical service. This comes about because of lack of effective management and communication.