IN ERA OF GLOBAL CHANGE, TIME TO BRING ABOUT 'AFRICA THAT AFRICANS DESERVE' SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL TO AFRICAN/AFRICAN-AMERICAN SUMMIT IN GHANA
Press Release
SG/SM/6999
AFR/144
IN ERA OF GLOBAL CHANGE, TIME TO BRING ABOUT 'AFRICA THAT AFRICANS DESERVE' SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL TO AFRICAN/AFRICAN-AMERICAN SUMMIT IN GHANA
19990519 Following is the message of Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the fifth African/African-American Summit, delivered on his behalf by the Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Ibrahima Fall, in Accra, Ghana, on 19 May:I would like to congratulate His Excellency, President Jerry Rawlings, and the Government of Ghana for their leadership and hospitality in hosting this historic event, which holds great promise for the future development of Africa.
I would also like to express my appreciation and admiration for the tremendous effort, interest and perseverance of the distinguished Chairman of this Summit, Reverend Leon Sullivan. Mr. Sullivan's efforts are a clear indication of how much a committed individual can do to change the future of a society for the better.
The participation of so many heads of State and government from Africa, African-American leaders and business leaders from throughout the world is clear testimony to the importance of this Summit. You have come together to mobilize energy and resources behind one of the most urgent challenges that Africa faces today: the creation of an enabling environment that will encourage investments in the development of this great continent.
Africa today is struggling to come to terms with a range of challenges posed by poverty, social and economic insecurity, and environmental degradation. As if that were not daunting enough, in some cases these challenges have been compounded by conflicts and very serious political problems.
So Africa faces many hurdles. Yet, they are not insurmountable if the appropriate political will and instruments are applied. When we identify root causes, and when we apply sustained efforts and adequate resources in the search for a solution, it has proved possible to come out of the quagmire of insecurity, political instability, poverty and underdevelopment. Even as we
speak, we can point to many countries that have a registered remarkable turnaround.
Those countries, both within and outside Africa, that have succeeded in positively changing the development path of their countries were able to do so when government and its partners elaborated a clear and sustained agenda for development. Such an agenda should not be imposed from the outside, but rather must be home-grown, reflecting the needs and priorities of the societies in which those development plans are to be applied.
Those countries that have made the greatest advances are those that deliberately target not just profits, income generation and a positive balance of payments in the short-term, but long-term objectives encompassing education, health, sustainable agricultural practices and other essential components of human security. Finally, those countries that have been successfully transformed have done so through a political process that allows people to participate in decisions affecting their lives, within a democratic framework based on good governance, transparency and the rule of law.
Africa has all the critical ingredients needed to attract foreign investment. It has an attractive market size, with a population expected to grow to more than 1 billion persons by the year 2025. It has a generous amount of natural resources and an ever-expanding network of trained professionals.
African countries are working hard to overcome the major handicaps they face. They are privatizing and strengthening their financial markets, and reforming their legal and institutional environments to welcome foreign investment. With the support of United Nations agencies, they are confronting the challenges posed by the relative underdevelopment of their communications infrastructure, developing the capacities of the business sector and addressing educational, social and other problems.
The international business community can be an important ally of the United Nations in supporting these positive changes and in our efforts for peace and sustainable development in Africa. There are ample investment opportunities in Africa, provided that potential investors look beneath the surface.
Today there is renewed international interest in Africa. Recently, the United Nations Security Council held two ministerial-level meetings devoted to Africa. United Nations agencies, such as the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) undertake a wide range of activities in the continent.
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In addition, many countries throughout the world have demonstrated their solidarity with Africa. The commitment of the United States was symbolized by President Clinton's visit last year to several African countries, and by congressional consideration of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act.
The African-American community has played a successful advocacy role in this regard, and is continuing to increase the profile of African issues in the United States. This Summit in Accra is sustaining that momentum.
In the past half century, Americans have committed their strengths, resources, generosity and will to the development of Europe and Asia, with remarkable results. It is my sincere hope that Africa will now benefit from a similar commitment. There is much to build on, since the ties between Africa and the United States are already strong. I saw evidence of this yet again, earlier this month, when I spoke at this year's commencement exercise at Howard University, one of the great institutions of African and African-American learning.
For that same half century, the United Nations has also been Africa's partner: a champion of African rights and self-sufficiency, and a supporter of Africa's work for peace and prosperity. In an era of fundamental change in Africa and the world, it is time to seize the moment and bring about the Africa that Africans deserve. In that spirit, please accept my best wishes for the success of this important and historic gathering.
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