Africa Unity is long overdue

Accra, June 28, GNA - With just a few days to go, a section of the Ghanaian on Thursday shared their views on the proposed African Union Government that would be at the centre of discussions during the Ninth Ordinary Summit of the African Union, which is in progress in Accra. Interviews conducted by the Ghana News Agency revealed that the idea of Africa coming together to form a unified government was welcomed.

This not withstanding, the readiness and commitments of African leaders in ensuring that the concept becomes a reality was what most of the interviewed persons were not too sure about. Mr Eric Peasah, Technical Cooperation Department, International Organization for Migration, said Africa, coming together was a laudable idea that needed to be given the outmost attention and support. He said it would help remove barriers and bottlenecks to free movement among member countries.

"Africa forming a union government would gain the continent more bargaining power when dealing with the larger economic community", he said. Mr Ernest Brown, Senior Manager Business Operations, Zipnet, was of the view that it was a bold step that the continent was taking, saying that the success of the reform would depend largely its implementation.

He said the Union Government was long overdue and that Africa should not waste time in carrying out the task. "I suggest that those countries ready to form the Union government should take the first step for others to follow, they only need determination and commitment, he added.

A Nigerian trader in Ghana, Vintus Eneh said the proposal was going to benefit the continent and hoped that all Africans got involved. He expressed the hope that as African leaders meet they would find a lasting solution to the conflict in Cote d'Ivoire and other war prone countries.

Others were also of the view that Africa having a unified government was impossible because to them, the continent for years tried and had failed to come together. Some also argued that Africa was made up of different people with different social, economic, psychological, political, and cultural background, including language barriers and therefore a united government would be the biggest challenge that would confront the continent.