African leaders are self-seeking – MP

Member of Parliament (MP) for Effutu Constituency in the Central Region Alexander Afenyo-Markin has descended heavily on African leaders, saying they look for their own interests instead of those of the people they serve.

He says the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was dissolved into the African Union (AU) in 2002, has not than enough in the objectives it set out to achieve in 1963.

Speaking on the 50th anniversary of the Organisation on TV3’s weekend news analysis programme Headlines, Mr Afenyo-Markin cited conflicts on the continent as signs that AU has failed in its mandate.

He said a continental body like the European Union (EU) fights for member states to the extent that even if the United Nations (UN) takes a varying decision, it fights to see to the fruition of its objectives.

“We negotiate on individual basis,” he said of African leaders, adding that the building of the AU headquarters and Kwame Nkrumah’s statue in Addis Ababa through Chinese funds is an affront to the continent.

“Let’s get more serious,” he stressed. “If we get more serious we will see development.”

He advised leaders to move away from the “talk-shop” conferences and act.

MP for Nanton Constituency Mohammed Ibrahim Murtala, who is also a Deputy Minister of Information and Media Relations, however, disagreed with Mr Afenyo-Markin by observing that the OAU/AU has done enough in the past five decades.

He said the establishment of a Pan-African Parliament is signal that integration is being achieved, albeit through a process, he adds.

May 25, 2013 marks exactly 50 years since the OAU was formed. Heads of the 54 nations as well as former leaders have met in Addis Ababa to mark the Golden Jubilee anniversary.