A CALL FOR GRASSROOTS PARTICIPATION IN THE OPERATIONS OF THE AFRICAN UNION

The University of Ghana Parliament House remembers the main purpose for the formation of the AU, formerly OAU as contained in the AU Charter namely the unification of the states of Africa into one formidable unit in order to offer Africans more meaningful and comfortable lives as well as a sense of dignity and self-determination. The house however notes with significant dismay the apparent inability of the union to execute its original noble mandate 50 years after its formation. This is especially so as this inability relates to the persistent pervasiveness of avoidable ignominies such as diseases, poverty, ignorance etc on the African continent.

As the house has discovered, the numerous meetings held by African Heads of States to discuss issues affecting the continent rarely really solve these issues and the purpose for holding those meetings is ipso facto defeated. The house laments the incidents of war, famine and disease as they have occurred variously in Somalia, DR Congo, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, etc. and continue to occur in other African countries. Needless to say, these are the causes as well as effects of the inability of the continent to turn its rich natural resources into prosperity for its people; a development that has occasioned the seemingly unavoidable dependence on external aid with its attendant demerits for political and economic development of the people of Africa.

Going forward after 50 years in existence, the AU must recapture its relevance by seeking more vigorously to execute its mandate of uniting the continent. The union must also make itself relevant to the numerous socio-economic problems facing the people. This cannot be done by its current elitist outlook where the structures are so detached from the people so that the union risks obliteration.

The house therefore calls for greater grassroots participation in the decision making process of the union. In other words, the necessary structures should be put in place to enhance the participation of the peoples of Africa in making the decisions that affect them and their continent. The youth especially have to be given the opportunity to experience the processes of decision making at the African Union. In this regard, there must be greater commitment to the African Youth Charter as well as the various national youth policies enacted by countries across the continent.

It is the commitment or otherwise to the above that will determine whether African people will trust the AU for better lives or look elsewhere for hope.

Distribution: Signed

All media houses Hardi M. Yakubu

Speaker, UGPH