Development Solutions for Africa: The Need for Policy Reform and Good Governance

With few exceptions, economic development in the African states has generally been elusive and the people in sub-Saharan Africa remain among the poorest in the world. From 1970 to 1990, GDP per capita in sub-Saharan Africa grew in real terms by only US80 and the region’s aggregate GNP per capita was only US340 in 1990. In terms of annual percentage change, the region registered a 1. 8 percent annual growth from 1970-77, an annual decline of 3. 0 percent from 1978-84, and an annual increase of 2. 4 percent from 1985-90. However, for the entire period of 1970-90, growth was statistically insignificant. During the period 1980-92 the annual growth rate of GNP per capita in sub-Saharan Africa was recorded as -1. 83.