African Unity is a Harry Potter fairytale

Ghana's first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, wanted to put the motion for a United Africa into action. The AU African Union with headquarters built by China and bugged with listening devices for fifteen years undetected in Addis Ababa was set up to form the strong African Union. He saw the potential of a one-voice Africa in a time of world power shifting.

Like the EU European Union, the AU started as a Union based on managing the economic strength of the African continent with subregional independent organizations like ECOWAS. Regional agreements to scrap the need for visas for Africans to travel inside Africa were initiated. Visa costs and travel expenses for Africans to travel across African borders are still on an unnecessarily high side. National egoism plays its part in these unfortunate rules.

Step by step the AU progressed into further fields. Military interventions in times of internal disruption to restore order and the rule of law started to be closer in the focus of this organization so the coordination of disaster relief efforts.

Unlike the development of the EU to establish an independent government like the European Commission controlled by the European Parliament which is voted for by all EU citizens is in the AU not thought of or anytime near wanted. The heads of African states still make the final decisions inside the AU.

It is witnessed in the desire of Ukraine to become a member state of the EU standards like a low corruption rate, good fiscal policy, and comparable justice systems, etc. must first be in place before the country can join the EU. Still, constant checks are in place to monitor the status of the agreed basic principles of membership.

Most African leaders by their proven records do not resist accepting bribes from outside or looting the national purse. It is not in their best personal interest to be forced by other African nations to be more transparent about their financial handling of state and private finances. Any such attempts are highly rejected by most African leaders. One rotten apple does not spoil the cake but when most apples are rotten the best baker can't bake the cake for people to enjoy.

Many African leaders have studied in the EU knowing firsthand the EU system, its development, the hurdles involved, and mistakes made, and are ready to put their observations to good use for the African Union.

But stop here, I beg, and let's not get lost in a modern so sweet fairytale in the darkness of the film set. Is it really possible that the many African leaders with deep personal pockets come out to face continental transparency and end corruption? Harry Potter used his magic stick to create wonders. Anyone in Africa has such a magic stick?