Economic and social survey of Africa 1958-1983: executive summary

Abstract

When the Economic Commission fox Africa was established in 1958, the vast majority of African States were still under the yoke of colonial rule. The scramble for Africa which had resulted in the balkanization of the region into many small States had,: by then, consolidated' the orientation of the African economy. Indeed, by 1958 the African economy had already been characterized by.a system which inhibited the development by the region of its own resources for its own use and benefits .he total production structure and its supporting infrastructure had all been established to ensure only the production and transportation of raw materials for export to the colonizing countries. The consumption pattern had also been such as to ensure maximum dependence on imports.