27 June 2008

Progress is being made in Africa and there is much cause for optimism, Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General Ransford Smith has said.

Mr Smith told representatives from African High Commissions and international organisations as well as academics gathered at Chatham House in London, UK, that Africa is building on its strong economic performance in recent years, which is expected to continue.

In spite of this progress, Mr Smith argued that all efforts need to be redoubled to ensure the marginalisation of Africa becomes yesterday’s story.

“Despite the recent improvement in economic performance, the share of people living in extreme poverty in sub-Saharan Africa has declined little and the absolute number of poor is actually increasing,” he observed.