Dakar, Senegal (PANA) – The Executive Secretary of United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), Carlos Lopes, has called on Africa to determine its own future and take ownership of its development agenda.
This was part of Mr Lopes’ presentation on the theme: ”Africa’s imperative to determine its own future” at the ongoing 14th General Assembly of the Council for Social Science Research and Development in Africa (CODESRIA) which runs between June 8-12 here in Dakar.
”Africa must take its own development agenda otherwise others will do it,” he said.
According to him, countries in Asia have been determining their own future and it is therefore vital for Africans to do the same.
Lopes pointed out that after lots of struggles, the time has come for the continent to move ahead.
He said the era of 1980s and 1990s were known as ”Africa’s lost decade” but was quick to add that the continent was emerging from hopelessness to ”Africa rising.”
Mr. Lopes went on to observe that if the current development trend continued, Africa would be one of the most beautiful continents across the globe.
He added that the continent’s youthful population would be greatly contributing to the global workforce by 2040.
”Six out of ten fastest growing economies of the world are in Africa,” he said, adding that the continent also registered improved economic governance.
However, Lopes pointed out that when it comes to structural changes, Africa is lagging behind.
He also argued that the continent should not over depend on external aid at the expense of mobilization of domestic resources.
Meanwhile, CODESRIA’s 14 General Assembly is being attended by several scholars, academics and other participants from across Africa and beyond.
Photo: UN
