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African Union at 50: Reflections on half a century of steady progress

The late Kwame NkrumahFifty years ago, the African Union, formerly known as the Organisation of African Unity, was born. The organisation came into being at the Addis Ababa meeting of all the then independent nations of Africa—spearheaded by the unremitting efforts and initiative of the first President of Ghana, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah. 

The principal aims of the organisation at its birth 50 years ago were to sustain and accelerate the struggle for political independence from colonial rule of the remaining African colonial states and to work tirelessly to unite all of Africa into one single, continental political entity as a bulwark against imperial domination and economic exploitation by outside forces. 

   It has been 50 solid years of tireless, sometimes halting, at other times active, engagement by African states to realise the initial ambitions of its founding fathers. We all can say with confidence and pride that we no longer have a single colonial entity on the continent and this singular achievement must be counted as an achievement chalked up under the initiative, direction, and assistance of the African Union. 

The John Institute of African Politics and Society, therefore, joins all Africans and those of African descent in the Diaspora to congratulate the founding fathers on the attainment of 50 solid years of existence. 

The AU has been the one signpost of the collective African will to succeed in the perennial battles being waged daily against the ravages of ignorance, disease and the bane of underdevelopment on our continent. 

The AU has become the principal medium for the African voice at international fora. The AU has achieved a status in international relations which has made it a persuasive force to reckon with in the resolution and consideration of international affairs.

The John Institute, however, cannot fail to notice the perennial criticism of the AU as a mere talking shop which has done nothing much to foster the achievement of the second plank of the objectives of its founding fathers—the continental political unity of all African nations into one mighty super state with its own paraphernalia of state. 

This criticism may be considered as a positive sign of the impatience that affects large swathes of enlightened African people worldwide who appreciate the benefits of political union. It is not meant to neither demean nor downgrade the importance of the AU to the unification efforts but to wish for more decisiveness and action in that direction.

It is the considered opinion of the John Institute that the process of unifying disparate African states with differing political systems, cultural and linguistic identities in the Africa we see today cannot be achieved in the life span of the AU of today. 

Wisely, therefore, the AU has emphasised a phased step-by-step approach to merge economic and cultural systems in a gradual but inexorable march towards political cohesion. This approach, more endurable than the forced approach favoured by some of our hasty intellectuals, would definitely endow the final act of union with the legitimacy that other consensual international bodies enjoy in the comity of nations.

The John Institute, however, and in spite of the above criticisms, believe that the 50th birthday of the AU should be an occasion for celebration by Ghanaians far and wide. This is because the AU has recognised the trailblazing efforts of our first President, Dr Nkrumah, in the formation and initial dynamics of the organisation and erected a statue in his image at AU headquarters in Addis Ababa to commemorate his sterling role. 

Ghanaians can take pride in the recognition given to our own in the struggle from colonial rule of all African countries and the impetus to politically unite the continent. We definitely have a heritage to be proud of, a role of leadership to continue and a grateful people who expect no less from us. 

It is the prayer of the John Institute that the next half century of the AU would definitely be the one in which the other praiseworthy objective of the union would be achieved and Africans everywhere would have just one country to call home. 

The John Institute believes that this is very achievable and that in the current elected, democratic leadership of the different African states, the process of integration, fueled by persuasion, would proceed apace. It is free people who can unite in strength and conviction and the spread of democracy on our continent would surely and certainly ensure that the unifying aims of the founding fathers of the AU will come to pass sooner than later. 

Issued by the John Institute of African Politics and Society

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