Little progress on African union - Dr Kaunda

Accra, Sept. 22, GNA - Dr Kenneth Kaunda, former President of Zambia, on Wednesday said Africa is unanimous on "African Unity" but pointed out that very little progress has been made towards a continental union.

He admitted, however, that progress have been made in the area of regional co-operation but doubted whether the various regional groupings on the continent represent satisfactory progress towards a political union of Africa.

Dr Kaunda was speaking at an international symposium, under the theme "Kwame Nkrumah, Africa and the 21st Century," in Accra as part of activities to mark the 90th birthday celebration of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, first President of Ghana.

Dr Kaunda said the vision of a united Africa propounded by Ghana's first President is "as fresh as it has ever been." He called on the leadership of African countries not to abandon efforts at uniting Africa, saying, "very little progress is better than no progress at all."

Dr Kaunda said regional organisations such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), South African Development Corporation, Common Market and Economies of South Africa (COMESA) are providing a framework for collective defence and for peace-keeping on the continent.

Dr Kaunda however, said he was not happy about the spate of civil and ethnic wars in Africa saying: "Africa is a continent at war with itself." The civil wars in Angola, Somalia, the Sudan and Liberia testify to a failure of governance in Africa, adding, "the war between Ethiopia and Eritrea is a perfect case that the further division of the continent does not mean the reduction of conflict."

He described Dr Nkrumah as a visionary, liberator, Pan-Africanist, man of ideas and ideals and action forever determined to see a free and united Africa. Dr Kaunda said the rejuvenation of the Congo crisis after the overthrow and death of Mobutu Sese Seko is a vindication of Dr Nkrumah's assertion that the "Congo question was never resolved".

He said Africa will have to act as one voice and the best way to do so is to unify the African market. Dr Kaunda pointed out that, with the sizes of present disintegrated markets in African countries, it would be difficult to exert any leverage in world affairs.

Professor Jacob Gordon of the African History, University of Kansas, USA, said the legacy of Dr Nkrumah would continue to occupy a unique position in African political history. He called for the Africanisation of educational systems to foster the development of the continent saying, "Africa needs intellectual leadership to shape the destiny of Africans."

Alhaji Huudu Yahaya, General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress said Dr Nkrumah stood for the formation of an African High Command to respond to crisis situation and use of scientific information to propel the development of the continent.

He said the ideas and ideals of Dr Nkrumah are still relevant and that of the African High Command would have abated the wars plaguing the continent. Alhaji Yahaya said the government would continue to develop and expand the socio-economic infrastructure of the country and build upon the achievements of Dr Nkrumah.

Nana Amba Eyiaba, queenmother of Efutu Traditional Area, called for the incorporation of some of the ideas of Dr Nkrumah into the government's Vision 2020 programme. Professor Kofi Awoonor, Presidential Staffer, chaired the symposium.