ACCRA, GHANA - As Americans celebrated the country s independence this week, leaders from across the African continent gathered in Accra, Ghana, to debate the creation of a federation of their own a United States of Africa. Following three days of intense discussions at the 9th African Union Summit, heads of state, high-ranking diplomats and members of the African Diaspora agreed to significantly accelerate continental integration despite differences over a specific timeframe. At the end of the summit Tuesday, African Union Chairman and Ghanaian President John Koufuor said all countries were in agreement that a unity government would become a main focus for the regional body.
It would also affirm the longtime dream of Ghana s founding president, Kwame Nkrumah, whose post-colonial vision of Pan-African unity was discussed but never realized by Organization of African Unity, predecessor to the African Union. Ghana is celebrating 50 years of independence in 2007. In closing comments, Koufuor said the so-called Accra Declaration, was adopted unanimously, and that leaders have appointed a special commission to begin examinations on how best to integrate current regional institutions and organizations.
While some African leaders, including Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi and Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade, had been vocal advocates for rapid integration, those calling for a more gradual approach similar to that of the European Union eventually won out. Like the EU, you are not going to get all 53 African countries to join at the same time. Countries from different regions will probably join at a pace consistent with the progress they make for integration, said Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
Liberia is going to work towards a union government, but we are a post-conflict country, so it will take us time. Sirleaf also said it was a natural progression for African countries to accelerate integration, as other regional bodies have worldwide. Others, such as South African President Thabo Mbeki and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni were also in favor of taking a more gradualist approach.
In Uganda, we are not in favor of forming a continental government now for a number of reasons, he told African leaders in a statement leaked to the press. While economically, I support integration with everybody, politically, we should only integrate with people who are either similar or compatible with us. Indeed, the final declaration affirmed that the special commission will first examine how best to integrate regional economic institutions to facilitate freer movement of persons, goods, services and capitol, across the continent.
The idea of a common African passport was also advocated by civil society groups in Accra, but was not addressed in the evening s final declaration late Tuesday night. economist Jeffery Sachs, special advisor to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on achieving the UN Development Goals and head of Columbia University s Earth Institute agreed that such a move could help bolster an economic take off for budding African economies. Africa needs to be able to have an expanded market within Africa, as Europe did within Europe after World War II, he said, adding that a more unified AU would give Africa a stronger diplomatic voice on the world stage.
The summit s final declaration also stressed the importance of involving members of the African Diaspora from across the globe in integration efforts, and accredited official diplomatic status to its members. The Reverend Jesse Jackson, a strong presence throughout the conference, said a common currency for Africa was critical for empowering African nations on the global economic level. The United States has many cultures, but the dollar is the common language.
Europe has many languages but the Euro is the common message, he said in support of rapid economic integration. The world is moving too fast for Africa to wait. Other prominent African-Americans, including musician Herbie Hancock, were also on hand, but a U.
S. delegation slated to be present, including actors Jamie Foxx and Isaiah Washington, comedian Chris Tucker and musician Mos Def failed to appear. As for the official U.
S. delegation to the summit, Permanent Representative to the African Union, Ambassador Cindy Courville, said the U.S.
was taking a wait and see approach to the deliberations over a United States of Africa. The choice is theirs, they have to have the great debate, she said. This is a dynamic undertaking, she added, noting that in certain ways, It s like watching the birth of the United States.
Ghanaian journalist Deneil Wastikua contributed to this report Africa, Research and Analysis Links Return to Resource Library Home ACCRA, GHANA - As Americans celebrated the country s independence this week, leaders from across the African continent gathered in Accra, Ghana, to debate the creation of a federation of their own a United States of Africa.
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