Media urged to change Africa's story from one of risks to opportunities

Abstract

"Africa's story told to the rest of the world is one of risks and conflict but a lot of people don't know that at this time conflicts account for 5 million deaths in Africa, but they account for 200 million deaths in Asia," Carlos Lopes, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa, told journalist in Cameroon as he ended his first working visit to that Gulf of Guinea country. The African continent presently has a $200 billion infrastructure deficit, Mr. Lopes said, while evoking the need for a series of financial vehicles to be developed to help address the problem. ECA's Executive Secretary, argued. He said given that two-thirds of Africa's growth came from consumption, the creation for value addition through industrialization would provide opportunities for more trade between African nations and result in more meaningful growth.