African govts must improve governance - Report

CAPE TOWN: Africa is standing on the edge of enormous opportunity, this year's Africa Progress Report finds, and African policymakers have critical choices to make. They can either invest their natural resource revenue in people to generate jobs and opportunities for millions in present and future generations, or they can squander this opportunity by allowing jobless growth and inequality to take root.

In many African countries, natural resource revenues are widening the gap between rich and poor. Although much has been achieved, a decade of highly impressive growth has not brought comparable improvements in health, education and nutrition. The Africa Progress Panel is convinced that Africa can better manage its vast natural resource wealth to improve the lives of the region's people by setting out bold national agendas for strengthening transparency and accountability.