AU Day commemoration should focus on resource utilization - NKII

Dr. Benjamin Anyagre, Executive Director, Kwame Nkrumah Ideological Institute (KNII),has stated that the African Union Day commemoration should focus on the utilization of the continent’s rich resources to the full benefit of its people.

“After 57 years of African Union, we should not have Africans dying in the desert in their quest to seek greener pastures abroad, lack of infrastructure and quality education, and a strong dependency on western and other donors, although the continent is blessed with all manner of rich resources,” he said.

Dr Anyagre stated in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra on the commemoration of the AU Day stressing that considering the socio economic challenges of the continent in spite of the rich natural resources, the day should be set aside for sober reflection.

“Africa Union Day should be observed to reflect on the achievements of the continent, and to determine whether those achievements measure up to the aspirations of Africa’s founding fathers,” he noted.

Dr. Anyagre observed that presently, leadership on the continent was largely characterized by self-serving and selfish motives rather than a spirit of servitude and self-sacrifice.

He said what the continent needed most now was leadership, characterized by a strong attitude of servitude towards the very people for whom that leadership existed.

Dr. Anyagre noted that the current governance systems on the continent, largely failed to provide for the people, the full gains from Africa’s rich resources.

He said it was unfortunate that after 57 years of the founding of the Organisation of African Unity, now the African Union, several Africans countries had children attending school under trees.

“Several people lacking access to safe water, people living in poor sanitary conditions that did not provide basic needs such as decent toilet facilities among several others, although these could easily be addressed, if the continent’s resources were well utilized.

Dr Anyagre urged the continent’s leadership to speed up plans towards achieving the Agenda 2063 targets of Africa, aimed at a united Africa that harnessed its resources in a harmonized collective form, towards the wellbeing of its people.

He said although the continent might appear to have a lot of differences that challenged its unity, it was worth noting that there were several examples of effective and productive unity all over the world, such as the United States of America, “so we can also make it, if we are determined enough.”

Dr. Anyagre said the challenge with the various systems on the continent such as the academia, Christian and Muslim leaders, the private sector, institutions of governance and all other related bodies, to imbue into Africans a spirit of love, unity and cooperation, with an aim to create a strong, prosperous and united continent.

He said the aims and principles of Agenda 2063 had to be practicalised and incorporated into the respective national agendas of African nations, in order to ensure that political campaigns were focused on issues that ensured the over-all progress and unity of Africa.

“Irrespective of our political and socio-cultural differences, we can, with the right approach, develop resources on the continent, and create more opportunities and jobs especially for the youth, and in effect, ensure a stronger and more resourceful Africa,” Dr. Anyagre said.

On May 25, 1963, the Organisation of African unity, now the African Union was founded.

The day is marked every year by African nations all over the world.