Africa is in disarray - Professor SKB Asante

The African Union was initially called the Organisation of African Unity

Renowned historian, Professor S.K.B. Asante, says not much has been achieved after the African Union (AU) was formed.

Responding to a question posed to him by host Kwaku Owusu Frimpong on Rainbow Radio on whether the AU has been able to achieve what it set out to do, he said, not much.

According to Professor Asante, the AU had great hopes- we thought by this time, Africa will be moving together, cooperation will be great, economies would be integrated and so on but we haven’t done that. It is sad, he added.

In the view of Prof. Asante, Africa is in disarray. Maybe I expected so much, we were so ambitious. He was however quick to add, some countries are doing well despite the challenges confronting the continent.

When asked if leadership has failed us despite the resources in the continent, he answered in the affirmative.

''We have the man power also. Africa is all over the place. In Europe, America, our people are doing well.People think they can do better outside and they do. Our people are very talented but somehow, we don't seem to do the right thing here.''

The African he noted, works hard when they travel abroad yet they fail to employ that same zeal in their home country.

He charged academicians to take up the challenge to find reasons why Africans do better in European countries instead of their home region. Africa he said must move beyond aid and be self-dependent.

He charged young people to be selfless like our for-bearers who sacrificed themselves for the continent.

According to him, we are disunited, selfish and not our brother’s keeper. He said, there is no future for the youth if we allow what is going on to continue.

The host asked the historian whether the objectives, mission and vision of the AU would be relevant in modern day Africa, he said, the late Muammar Gaddafi Abu Minyar Gaddafi, commonly known as Colonel Gaddafi, who was a Libyan leader was killed because of his efforts to continue the fight for the unity of Africa.

He said, the country was invaded by outsiders and Gaddafi was killed because they saw him as a threat.

‘’We should not only be one in our country but Africa. We should not amass wealth for ourselves but we should improve the lot of the African…It beholds on all of us to change our ways,’’ he said.