When Mills preaches African unity in Ottawa

In Ottawa for a four-day visit to Canada, the Ghanaian leader asked his colleagues to pull resources together to withstand the dictates of what Dr. Kwame Nkrumah referred to as neo-colonialism.

He was addressing the African Diplomatic Corps in Canada, and struck a note that would have been music in the ears of the man who led Ghana to throw off the colonial yoke, and declared the independent of Ghana as meaningless unless linked with the total liberation of the African continent.

The difference here is that the man who led Ghana to independence dedicated the entire era of his rule to the service of the continent, and sometimes, to the detriment of the scarce resources of state.

The Ghanaian leader's assertion that there was more in Africa that unites the people than divide us is straight from the repertoire of the man who spent his entire life as leader of this nation, trying to bring Africa together.

The Chronicle would like to believe that a statement of this far-reaching consequence for the African continent ought to have emanated from the forum of heads of state and governments of this continent, where octogenarian leaders have virtually declared themselves presidents for life, and using scarce resources of state to maintain their leadership.

To most Africans, the idea of a continental unity is a kind of a club concept, understood only by the leadership. To the ordinary man on the street, African unity or not, means very little to their lives.

When the Economic Community of West African States came up with the idea of free movement of goods and persons within the community, border entry points have rather become a lucrative venture for those manning them.

In Ottawa, President Mills asked leaders of Africa to be frank with the people and tell them the truth, no matter how bitter it is. The Chronicle would wish that the President of the Republic of Ghana could walk his talk, and run an open and transparent administration.

Since taking the oath of allegiance on January 7, the President has failed to run an open and transparent administration. Matters pertaining to the state of the Head of State's health, for instance, have not been open for public discourse.

The other day, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Deputy Minister of Information, issued a statement telling the people of Ghana that medication prescribed by the Presidential health team was the reason why the Presidential palms went black.

The message stopped short of telling the people of this country what assailed our President, leaving it to all kinds of speculations about the health of the leader of this nation.

The Chronicle is thrilled about the idea of Africa approaching international issues on a united front. The new Presidential pronouncement cannot synchronise with a Presidential pronouncement at the time Cote d'Ivoire was burning and needed a united African front to deal decisively with the situation.

The infamous 'Dzi Wo Fie Asem' (Mind Your Own Business) declaration by the President of the Republic of Ghana effectively killed off any idea of a United African front to confront the situation.

That is why The Chronicle is appealing to President Mills to be consistent in his proclamations on African issues. Not only are these declarations becoming confusing, they do not seem to cut him out as a leader with any clear-cut policies.