Union Govt of Africa to be formed in Ghana?

...Idea sounds romantic, but ... -Mahama
African leaders will meet in Ghana in July to discuss the idea of creating a united government for the continent.

This would be a legacy of the dreams of pioneering post colonial leaders, such as Kwame Nkrumah and would see current states surrender certain powers to the superior entity.

Al Hadj Diao Kante, the Pan African Parliament’s (PAP) chairman of the committee on co-operation, international relations and conflict resolution, told a press conference that the aim was to establish the government around 2015.

However, some parliamentarians inside the House doubted the viability of the idea, according to an Agence France Presse report.

"The UGA (Union Government of Africa) idea sounds romantic but there are many serious obstacles that we have to surmount before its formation," Ghanaian MP Mahama Dramani John was quoted as saying.

He cited economic and social inequalities and the need to harmonise policies, the report read.

"We cannot create UGA with a stroke of the pen."

The report went on to say that in debate, Chadian MP Kebzabo Salleh said he doubted African leaders had the political will to support the creation of a union government.

"Most of our leaders in Africa do not have any vision for Africa, not even for their countries."

He cited the recent Nigerian elections, condemned as flawed by observers for irregularities and violence.

"What has happened (in Nigeria) during the elections does not augur well for our continent. As long as things like this do not change, I do not believe in the UGA. We will not be able to build African unity."

Misapa Maynard, a delegate from Zambia, decried a lack of democracy on the continent, the report added.

"Certain countries have not recognised true democracy and the essence of love. They lack love. Love should prevail in us before we sing the song of unity in Africa. If there is no love, we are discussing a failed issue", he said.

Maynard added the continent would have to adopt common policies on the economy, education and respect for human rights before unity could be attained.

Meanwhile, Kante went on to say: "The nucleus of that government would be the African Union and the PAP would be part of the nucleus of that government.

July’s summit in Ghana’s capital Accra, will see African leaders decide the way forward for the idea following their examination of a report that the PAP has discussed.

Asked whether the creation of an united African government would be a country such as the United States or an organisation such as the European Union, Kante replied: "I am tempted to answer that after Accra...it will be difficult to envisage an entity without any army, a department of foreign affairs and economic institutions".