Africa's economic performance improving.

Africa's economic performance improved marginally in 1989, but was still not sufficient to reverse the persistent decline in living standards which has made the 1980s a "lost decade for the continent", according to the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

In 1989, Africa's gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 2.9 per cent, compared with 2.4 per cent in 1988. But with population rising faster, average incomes fell by 0.3 per cent-little better than the minus 0.7 per cent fall in 1988.

ECA Executive-Secretary Adebayo Adedejl said in Addis Ababa on 15 january that 1989 would be most remembered as the closing year of Africa's lost decade of development opportunities. The 1980s had witnessed a rapid deterioration in social welfare, as well as disintegration of productive and infrastructural facilities. Ten years ago, the GDP per capita stood at $854; today, it is $565, he said.

Mr. Adedeji said that 1990 must be seen "as the year of challenge and opportunity". If the 1990s were not to become another lost decade, African Governments must adopt new economic strategies that...