The UN Secretary-General commended African countries for their continuous progress over the past 50 years and stressed that action is needed to tackle many challenges remaining in the continent.
“Several African countries are among the world’s fastest growing economies, defying the global downturn. Opportunity beckons for ever greater numbers of people, and ever more international investors are taking notice,” Ban Ki-moon said.He added that deep challenges persist.
Mr Ban hailed the declining poverty rates in Africa together with improvements in addressing deadly diseases.
The UN chief was speaking at Wednesday’s Africa Day celebrations in New York marking the 50 years of the founding of the Organization of African Unity, now known as the African Union (AU).