Africa’s rising economic growth has failed to significantly reduce poverty, create enough jobs, or deliver better healthcare and education.
Kenyan President, William Samoei Ruto made the observation while delivering a keynote address at the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) plenary summit on the Society Pillar, held in Yokohama City, Japan.
He noted that although Sub-Saharan Africa’s GDP is projected to grow by four per cent this year, compared to the global average of three per cent, the impact of that growth doesn’t reflects in the lives of ordinary citizens.
“Growth has not adequately translated into poverty reduction, more jobs or even better health and educational services,” he declared.
The Kenyan leader stressed that for economic expansion to be meaningful, governments across the continent must channel more resources into human capital.
“For inclusive growth and shared prosperity to become a reality for our citizens and consequently leave no one behind, we must substantially invest in people, their health, education and essentially their well-being,” he said.