African regional hearing for the millennium assembly , executive secretary: opening remarks by K.Y. Amoako

Abstract

This opening remarks deliverd by K. Y. Amoako , Executive Secretary of ECA at the Africa Regional Hearing for the Millennium Assembly. Mr. Amoako, on his remarks highlighted that, Preventing war and building peace remains one of the key challenges for Africa as we enter the new millennium. Since 1970, more than thirty wars have been fought in Africa. The economic consequences of war, the other major threat to economic sustainability- already eloquently elaborated on by my colleague the Secretary-General of the OAU- is the scourge of AIDS. As the ECA's Economic Report 2000 will point out, even the most conservative estimates project a substantial reduction in economic growth and life expectancy as a result of this pandemic. AIDS is the greatest challenge facing the continent as we enter the new millennium, and one in which African leaders are called upon to do much more. The multiple challenges before African governments including war, AIDS, debt, changing terms of trade and natural calamities underscore the key role of the state in the critical years ahead. No nation state in Africa can live in isolation and hope to survive. We applaud the efforts of our leaders to hasten the pace of regional economic integration towards an African Economic Community.