57-Years Of Advancing Continental Unity: Do We Still Have A Continental Body?

It was in 1994 that I wake up and often sneak to my elder brother's room just to watch a calendar of past and current presidents of Ghana. I cannot just imagine watching the picture of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. I could not have appreciated what was happening at the time.

I have developed a passion for my books; haven gained admission to Bawku Senior High School to study general arts; my knowledge level begins to broaden. Much was said and taught on civilization with emphasis on Pharaonic Egypt and Nilotic Sudan, The Role of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, and pan- Africanism.

As a student of History and Government, I began to appreciate the ideological and philosophical standpoint of real-life and issues. I gained a better understanding of African politics and global view in terms of trying to appreciate the context of poverty, governance, democracy, and development.

As a person who have imbibed the moral values of having a sense of pride, identity, tolerance, and belonging, I tried to find out why some past and current leaders of our continent have been vilified, insulted, and abused. One name that stands out in terms of global critiques has been the Libyan leader Muammar al- Gaddafi and Comrade Robert Mugabe both of blessed memories. The name-calling by western superpowers of these great sons of Africa was simple because of their belief in the liberation struggle of our people.

It is not a denying fact that the continent of Africa is endowed with minerals, golds, freshwater, oil, diamond, cocoa, coffee Tobacco, and youthful population base, yet the continent is synonymous with poverty, hunger, diseases, and bad democratic governance. The question is, why is the global community highly interest in sharpening the ideas, political and economic engagement of Africa. The unjust world economic order, mental slavery, and act of neocolonialism is the cause of Africa continuous fall. Where did we go wrong, after recognizing the need for continental unity?

One man that has his name inscribed in world history is Ghana’s first president, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. Who has established a sound industrial regime, quality education system, robust economic management, health care, energy and regional integration agenda? It was no doubt that, he has been named and acclaimed the African of the millennium of the 21st century.

It is important to recognize the fact that, the sorry state of bad governance in Africa can be told with the significant milestone of true leadership, pan – Africanism and liberation of the continent by black minds, ideas as exemplified in Paul Kagame the president of Rwanda, John Magufuli of Tanzania and Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed and recently the President of Madagascar Andry Rajoelina. These few African leadership, are the only true pan- Africanist reliving the dream of our founding fathers, with many oppositions standing their path, how far can they go?

Today, after 57 years of independence, most African states don’t have transformational leaders, rather puppets that sacrifice the nation’s interest for selfish gains. The African Union (AU) have failed to demonstrate its underlining principles of decolonization of African. While some may argue that, Africans have been decolonized. The question remains; whether African states are indeed independent? Neocolonialism has even become the worst form of colonialism as most African are enslaved mentally.

It is disgusting to note that, the AU stood by and watch NATO-led coalition invaded and got comrade Muammar al- Gaddafi killed. A country that was the gateway to African unity and development is now on its knees without any sign of recovery from political, social, and economic turmoil.

The AU cannot pride itself as a worthy organization as the spirit of solidarity, oneness, and sense of unity of purpose is a missing link. Today the Blackman will kill his fellow Blackman and hail the Whiteman as a true friend. The real slave master. Our political leadership has been engulfed in pervasive corruption, greedy, and create-loot-and-share. AU has betrayed the fundamental purpose of its creation and has not achieved much worthy of celebration.

The AU has not helped to lay a sound social and economic development that has been vigorously pursued by our forbearers; African continent as the wealthiest, still has the bad road network, agrarian agriculture sector, debt distress, poor educational system, weak telecommunication industry and above all poor youth development programmes. Communicable disease, poor sanitation, hunger and malnutrition, ethnic fragmentation/wars/conflicts, endemic corruption, and bad governance as its unpalatable attributes.

Author; Tahiru Lukman

Email: [email protected]

Position; Youth Activist, Dev’t Consultant & Pan- African Author