No editorial checks on this article yet

This article is not approvedThe content of this article is not verified by the editorial team of Africanews.com. Read our editorial requirements to see the criteria we use to decide if we publish an article on the homepage of Africanews.

World Bank Challenge Africa on Growth

  1. Posted on Thursday 14 January 2010 - 11:04
    Emeruwa
    Image of Emeruwa
    A recent study conducted in 24 African countries by the World Bank group shows that the poor state of infrastructure in Sub Saharan Africa is capable of cutting its productivity rate by a greater margin.

    The areas of infrastructure lack considered in the World Bank report are namely: power, water, roads, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT). The study shows cuts in national economic growth in the countries by 2 percentage points every year, and reduces business productivity by as much as 40 percent.

    A holistic look at these sectors across the region (electricity, water, roads, ICT) shows that power is classified to be the single largest impediment to economic growth. Also, high hydro-climatic variability, inadequate storage, rising demand, and lack of trans-border cooperation undermine the region’s water sector.

    Obiageli Ezekwesili, World Bank vice president for the African region noted that economy will be slow when modern infrastructure which is the backbone of an economy is lacking. “Africa can plug those leaks through reforms and policy improvements which will serve as a signal to investors that Africa is ready for business.” Says Ezekwesili in the report.

    In a related development, ineffective linkages between different transport modes (air, road, and rail), declining air connectivity, poorly equipped ports, ageing rail networks and inadequate access to all-season roads are key problems facing Africa’s transport system.

    ICT was also not left out of the study, an indication that despite the number of regional mobile phone users increasing, the average price of prepaid mobile services is $12.58 a month in the region, six times the $2 cost in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan. The report reveals.

    Prioritising these sectors (energy, water, transport, and ICT), increasing investments, and improving efficiency can help African countries avert the worsening impacts of the financial crisis

Latest News

  1. AFCON: 46 hurt in Zambia victory celebrations09/02Over 40 casualty cases were recorded Wednesday night at Zambia's University Teaching Hospital (UTH) after post-match celebrations turned violent …
  2. African Peer Review Mechanism making progress08/02In 2003 the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), the continental development plan, initiated the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM…
  3. Combating HIV infections among African women08/02With a lack of knowledge and power, African women continue to bear the brunt of HIV infections.
  4. Legume cultivation booms in Western Kenya07/02Small Holder Farmers (SHFs) who traditionally relied on seed companies for all their seeds are now bulking their own legume seeds for their farms.
  5. Malawi vendors chase out Chinese07/02Vendors in Kalonga, the Northern district of Malawi, on Wednesday petitioned the District Commissioner to flash out all Chinese nationals who are doin…
  6. Zim: Informal sector urged to join HIV battle05/02While the Harare City council is busy engaging in running battles with city vendors, Health Minister has called for authorities to devise ways to form…
  7. Elections: Wole Soyinka warns Mugabe, Wade03/02The Nigerian Nobel Prize winner for literature said heads of states who are trying to cling to power suffer the same fate as the dictators who were sw…
  8. AU elections rescheduled for June in Malawi01/02Following a deadlock during Monday's African Union elections, with a tie between former wife to South African president Jacob Zuma, Home Affairs …
  9. Senegal in turmoil as protest intensifies01/02Hundreds of anti-government protesters Tuesday gathered in the central Dakar, Senegal to show their dissatisfaction over the incumbent president Abdou…
  10. Zimbabwe’s inflation still favourable -…01/02Zimbabwe's annual headline inflation still compared favourably with economies in the region, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Gideon Gono said o…
  11. AFCON 2012: Sudan qualifies after four decades31/01The Sudanese national team has sealed a historic win over the Stallions of Burkina Faso.
  12. Senegalese opposition to intensify protests31/01Opposition and civil society groups in Senegal have vowed to increase their fight against incumbent President Abdoulaye Wade's presidential bid.
  13. Malawi: Rights coalition condemn stripping of…30/01The 39 members of the Solidarity for African Women's Rights Coalition based in 18 African countries have vehemently condemned the stripping of wo…
  14. Kenya to deworm five million children annually30/01Kenya launched the second phase of its national deworming programme at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2012, aiming to treat 5 million childre…
  15. Benin’s Yayi Boni is AU’s new…30/01President Yayi Boni of Benin Republic has been elected chairperson of the African Union in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa
News archive