Structural adjustment in Africa: Insights from the experiences of Ghana and Senegal

Structural adjustment in Ghana and Senegal has helped create an improved framework for economic growth. But this is a fragile trend, one that could be disrupted by bad weather, adverse terms of trade, and the vagaries of international assistance. The current version of adjustment, however, has produced little enduring poverty alleviation. A weak performance on equity issues, together with rising political expectations, has generated threats to the sustainability of structural adjustment and overall political stability. Alternatively, adjustment policies can be modified to fully incorporate equity and sustainability objectives. In this respect, it is critical for the poor to obtain more effective representation in decision-making on adjustment through indigenous nongovernment organizations.