CM/Res.921 (XXXVIII)
RESOLUTION ON THE WORLD BANK ENTITLED “ACCELERATED DEVELOPMENT IN SUB-SAHARA AFRICA: AN AGENDA FOR ACTION”
The Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity meeting in its Thirty- eighth Ordinary Session in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 22 to 28 February 1982.
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank) Report entitled “Accelerated Development in Sub-Saharan Africa: An Agenda for Action”: in Document CM/1177 (XXXVIII), and in particular, Addendum I which contains an assessment of the Report by the ADB, ECA and 0AU Secretariats,
Recalling the intention of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government in the Lagos Plan of Action, to promote the economic and social development and integration of African economies with a view to achieving an increasing measure of self-reliance and self-sustainment,
Recalling further the basic guidelines for the achievement of the objectives of self- reliance and self-sustainment through a reduction of Africa’s present and extreme dependence on exports of primary products; through the development at national, multi-national and regional levels of complementarities for the exploration, evaluation, extraction and utilization of Africa’s vast natural resources; through the establishment of complementarities of raw materials for expanding and diversified production by way of intra-African trade,
Recognizing that extra-African aid can only serve as a supplement, not the mainstay of
Africa’s development,
Noting with serious concern that the strategy to development and economic growth recommended in the World Bank Report is inconsistent with the above basic objectives guidelines, and targets of the Lagos Plan of Action and would in fact perpetuate the present structure of African economies and make them more dependent on agricultural exports and on external markets,
Determined to pursue the objectives of African economic development and growth strategy on the basis of the objectives, guidelines and targets laid down in the Lagos Plan of Action and the Final Act:
TAKES NOTE of the Report of the Secretary-General in Doc. CM/1177 (XXXVIII), and of the Addendum to it;
EXPRESSES appreciation to the OAU Secretary-General, ECA Executive Secretary and the President of ADM for their vigilance and collective initiative in reacting to the World Bank Report;
CONSIDERS that the development strategy in the World Bank Report, is basically different from the approach, concepts and objectives of the Lagos Plan of Action and fails to take account of the acceleration of international crisis and its impact especially on Africa;
DEPLORES the attempt by the World Bank to divide Africa by confining its Report to sub-Saharan Africa which is inconsistent with the overall objectives of the Lagos Plan of Action and the Final Act of Lagos, which are to integrate African economies;
CALLS ON all OAU Member States to press on with full and effective implementation of the Lagos Plan of Action and the Final Act of Lagos at the national, sub-regional and regional levels;
URGES the African Governors of the World Bank and of the African Development Bank to adopt a common African position on the World Bank Report at their meetings in Dakar and Lusaka, on the basis of the joint Report of the Secretariats of the ADB, ECA and OAU and taking into account the content of this resolution;
URGES also the ECA Conference of African Ministers responsible for economic development and planning to evaluate the World Bank Report in relation to the objectives, guiding principles and targets as well as the basic concepts underlying the Lagos Plan of Action taking into account the joint report of the ADB, ECA and OAU Secretariats, the content of this resolution and the decision of the Dakar and Lusaka Conferences of African Governors of the World Bank and ADB;
URGES the Secretary-General of the OAU and the Executive Secretary of the ECA to intensify their activities and efforts with a view to effective implementation of the Lagos Plan of Action and the Final Act of Lagos and to assist African governments in their efforts to implement the Lagos Plan of Action and the Final Act of Lagos;
REQUESTS the Secretary-General of the OAU to transmit this resolution to Dakar and Lusaka Conferences of African Governors of the World Bank and ADB, the Executive Secretary of the ECA and the President of the ADB;
DECIDES to reconsider this matter at its Thirty-ninth Ordinary Session on the basis of paragraphs 5 and 6 above, with a view to bringing it to the attention of the 19th Assembly of Heads of State and Government.