The head of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), kicking off a series of forums meant to boost dialogue with donors and other partners, said that economic growth on the continent must be pursued in the context of a long-term development. "Efforts to continue improving economic and political conditions in the continent must be assessed against the goal of long-term development and structural transformation," ECA Executive Secretary Abdoulie Janneh said as he opened the first Partners Forum of 2008 at ECA headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A statement released in Accra on Friday by the UN Information Centre, said the six monthly forums were linked to the efforts of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to highlight challenges facing Africa in its effort to develop new, sound economies through his Africa Working Group on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a set of time-bound targets to slash extreme poverty and other global ills. In his opening address, Mr. Janneh said the response to current challenges, including a recession in key industrial countries and high international oil and food prices, must also take the long-term perspective. "The cumulative impact of these challenges could compound efforts to scale-up and sustain growth and extend its benefits to socially excluded groups including women and children," he said. Source: GNA