The AU Debate is On

The Statesman, 13/06/2007, Ghana.

It was a fitting tribute to Ghana’s first president and pioneer of the formation of the Organisation of African Unity, forbear of the African Union, that on the day the mortal remains of his wife Fathia were interred beside him, Ghanaians from all walks of life gathered at the Teachers” Hall, Accra, for a non-partisan debate on the goal of achieving Africa’s integration by 2025.

Indeed, so large was the crowd that the organisers, had to hire plastic chairs in a hurry to seat the participants in the forum to debate the form the proposed integration should take.

The forum, on the topic “Achieving United Nations of Africa by 2025,” was addressed by speakers drawn from all spheres of ideology, from Gradualists to Instantists.

Instantists, including Kwesi Pratt Jnr, Managing Editor of the Insight, would like the proposed integration to take place at once, arguing that too much time had been spent pontificating on the need for Africa to have one voice without actually doing anything about it.

Rapidists, while not disagreeing with Instanttists’ view on time, would rather the integration was done rapidly, instead of at once. The Gradualists would like to see every structure patiently placed and functioning before any integration is attempted.

Opening the debate, K Boafo Arthur, Head of Department of Political Science at the University of Ghana, said although the idea of a United States of Africa was welcome, “we must hasten with caution and not make inroads and slack in our efforts to attain that”.

He stressed: “Anybody who thinks that unification of Africa is a bad idea needs to readdress the ideas of African development.”

Addressing issues which he felt were pinnacle problems for a United States of Africa, he said Africa lacked clear cut objectives, and concrete proposals in a world of global competition; African leaders need to be mindful of where they came from and find means to deal with the bureaucracies that hinder development.

Prof Arthur insisted that there is the need to understand specifically the goals and objectives of developing a United States of Africa and why the need for integration to ensure that well thought out guidelines are followed for that vision to be achieved.

He cautioned that Africa should not rely on Pan-African sentimentalism to solve problems and suggested that citizens be made to understand issues so that they can have their say in issues concerning governance processes of their country.

Renowned poet Ama Ata Aidoo called on African governments to be self dependent and “stop begging”. She said Africa must look within her own continent to solve her own problems.

“It is an embarrassment and lack of dignity for Africans to go begging for developmental assistance any time they are in need,” said, to loud applause.

She criticised the organisers’ decision to have just one woman panelist at a forum to discuss Africa’s integration, given that women made up more than half the population of the continent

Describing himself as a “committed pan Africanist”, Attorney General and Minister of Justice Joe Ghartey, on his part said it was important to debate what power Africa will acquire after the first stage of proceedings, maintaining that a “hands on deck approach” was required.

“This is the moment, we must seize it,” told the crowd, adding, the key to the union of Africa was located in the “strength of unity and collectivity.”

He admitted, however, that “no form of union could be a perfect form of union, but one with least imperfections would be satisfactory.”

He called for the adoption of the European Court of Justice model in the integration drive to help harmonise laws and legislation during the integration process.

Taking his turn, Yao Graham, Coordinator of the Third World Network, a civil society organisation, suggested that the vision of the AU be built not only to materialise, but to strengthen its global economy, become more competitive globally and ensure that the people can benefit from an African regional market.

In addition, he advocated that the historical context in which the discussion were taking place and the challenge of industrialisation be addressed. He implied that to achieve a United Africa and to disentangle the current mess, “rationalisation of the building blocks of Africa is required.”, the vision of the society must be clear and that this will be supported by the reintroduction and integration of the ordinary African people, thus the “people must be brought back into the centre of the Pan African question for it to be successful.”

Both Dr Graham, and Kwesi Pratt, who spoke after him, argued energetically against the Gradualist approach. Dr Graham, though, wondered if the necessary structures were in place for instant integration.

“There is only one way forward for Africa and that is to unite politically, socially and economically, and not to waste any more time,” Mr Pratt thundered, to cheers. He rejected barriers that had been put forward by previous discussants such as, How could Africa become united, when each country’s history is so conflicting? He invigorated the audience with a more than feasible answer to the question of what is the purpose of a United States of Africa, suggesting that “it is to get out of the clutches of colonialism.”

He furthermore, expressed his belief that for Africa to be recognised as a dominant force, it would be essential for it to present itself as a “United Africa and join as a team such as other world powers.”

Commenting, Ken Ofori-Atta, Chairman of the Databank Group, who provided a political angle from the private sector point of view, advocated that time was of the essence, thus “the continent cannot afford to slow down, but accelerate.”

He expressed concern that the entire gross domestic product of the African continent was equivalent to the GDP of Belgium, with a population less than half Ghana’s estimated population of 22 million. He also called for the adoption of the EU Court of Justice model, especially in facilitating public-private sector partnerships.

The prominent emphasis of his contribution was on education and how this would eventually become a driving force towards a united Africa, “Let us engage together. Massive investment in education is required to move forward.”

However, Ben Kunbuor, National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament for Lawra/Nandom and Ranking Member on Finance, was “unsure whether the path set out by the United States of America, can be followed by the United States of Africa.”

The Forum, organised by The Statesman in partnership with the Centre for Democratic Development, Citi FM and Metro T.V on the topic “Achieving a united Africa by 2025”, was chaired by Nana Dr S K B Asante.

Lead discussants included Lawyer Akoto Ampaw, Prof S K B Asante, member of the Ghana Council of the African Peer Review Mechanism, Prof John Atta Mills and Nana Akufo-Addo.

A communiqué prepared at the end of the debate will be presented to Parliament and the Executive stating the participants’ view on the proposed integration and the form it should take.

http://www.thestatesmanonline.com/pages/news_detail.php?newsid=3774&section=1

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