Meeting the challenge of sustainable development in Africa: Statement by K. Y. Amoako, executive secretary of the economic commission for Africa

Abstract

Statement by K. Y. Amoako, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) to the 76th Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity (OAU). Mr. Amoako, on his remarks highlighted that, there were pro-development achievements on Public Health issues and on trade-related intellectual property rights. There was progress on agricultural trade but serious slippage since due to huge new US subsidies to its wealthy farmers. We made little headway on textiles. Environmental and hygiene standards are to be resolved. We did not gain much on industrial tariffs. We made progress on capacity building by placing the issue on the continuing agenda. So the results at Doha were mixed, but a lot better for us than many previous WTO meetings. ECA has worked closely with the NEPAD Steering Committee and the secretariat on a number of key areas related to the design of NEPAD, particularly on the peer review and governance related matters. The Global Fund for HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis is overwhelmed with proposals and requires bold replenishment to save millions of our people from certain death.