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E/CN.14/~.339 22 February, 1967 Original: ENGLISH
ECONOMIC CO~~IISSION FOR AFTIICA Eighth session
Lagos, 13-25 February, 1967
Draft resolution Agenda item 5(d)
Concerning: Pan-African Telecommunication Network Sponsored by: Dahomey, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria The Economic Commission for Africa
Reiterating its view that the development of a modern and well- planned Pan-African Telecommunication Network is an urgent and
fundamental requirement for accelerating the economic, social and political development of the African Continent,
Noting the report of the jcint ECA/OAU meeting on telecommunications in Africa (E/CN.14/357) in particular the different resolutions adopted at the meeting,
Noting with satisfaction that the Plan Committee for Africa under the auspices of the International Telecommunications Union composed of expert representatives of African member States at its meeting in Addis Ababa (Jan.-Feb.1967) has just prepared a plan for the inter- connection of African telecommunication networks which constitutes the first basic staze in the forthcoming construction of a general Pan-African network,
Having noted the resolution and opinions adopted by the representa- tives of African Telecommunication Administrations at this second
meeting, particularly as regards staff training and the priority to be given to telecommunication projects,
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E/CN.14/L.339 Page:2· 'Recognizing that the next step is the rapid implementation of the Plan by the African countries,
Taking into account the statements by the Executive Secretary and the Deputy Secretary-General of
lTD,
on the results of the sec>ond meeting of the Plan Committee for Africa held in Addis Ababa from23
January to8
February 1967,Conscious that this involves the investment of vast financial and manpower resources, which most African countries either do not possess or are unable, to mobilize themselves, and that therefore great and sustained efforts are necessary to explore all possible souroes of technical, financial and manpower assistance, to co-ordinate their
rational utilization and to assist the African countries in that respect, Commending the close co-operation "hich exists between the-Commission, lTD and
GAU
for the harmonious development of telecommunications inAfrica,
1. Strongly encourages them to pursue their efforts to strengthen this co-operation for the benefit of all African countries;
2. Requests the Executive Secretary to take, in consultation with
GAU,
lTD, ADB, the Bank and UNDP, immediate steps to establish in the secretariat an advisory service including economists as well as technical experts and headed by a competent African for assisting the African countries to take all appropriate meaBures to implement rapidly the Pan-African Telecommunication Network Plan, and in partioular:(a) To explore and mobilize all possible national, international, bilateral and multilateral sources of financial assistance;
(b) To assist member countries initiate measures, in co-operation with the appropriate bodies, to ensure that sufficient manpower is available in African countries at all levels in qnantity and quality for the networks as they are progressively realized;
E!CN.14/L.}39
Page 3(c) To promote and, in general, co-ordinate the efforts of the African Governments and of bilateral and multilateral institutions providing technical and financial assistance and to take such other measures as the Executive Secretary considers necessary to secure the rapid realization of a well-balanced African telecommunication network;
3.
Recommends that African countries pay the greatest attention to resolutions, recommendations and opinions adopted by the African telecommunication experts both at the joint ECA/OAD meeting and at the second meeting of the Plan Committee for Africa,4.
Invites African Governments to give the development of anAfrican telecommunications network very high priority in their development plans.
