Meeting the Development Challenges facing Africa in the 21st Century: The Role of ECA Statement by Mr. K. Y. Amoako, executive secretary of the economic commission for Africa

Abstract

Statement by Mr. K. Y. Amoako, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa at the Tokyo Conference on Development Strategy; Meeting the Development Challenges facing Africa in the 21st Century: The Role of ECA. Mr. Amoako, on his remarks highlighted that, Africa is the biggest challenge for the UN itself. As the Secretary-General, Dr. Boutros-Ghali, has warned in launching the Agenda for Development: `the failure to help improve the human condition of a whole continent would be a moral and political defeat for the UN. Africa remains the great test of an effective agenda for development.' African landscape is not one un differentiated mass. It is a mosaic, a spectrum, within which, as we go towards the 21st century, there is a new Africa emerging. A sustainable environment for Africa, occupying one quarter of the earth's landmass, is crucial in stabilizing the planetary environment. A key element of the strategy for becoming competitive in the world economy is to strengthen regional economic integration in Africa.