CPP remains resolute on Union Government

Accra, June 28, GNA - The Convention People's Party (CPP) said on Thursday that it remained "irrevocably committed" to the immediate integration of Africa's political, social and economic structures. Dr. Edmund Delle, Chairman and leader of the CPP, therefore urged African leaders who would attend the Ninth African Union Summit to listen to the African masses and immediately begin the process of creating the continental Union Government of Africa now. Addressing a press conference in Accra, he suggested that the process must start with common policies for foreign affairs, defence and trade as well as appointment of Africa Ministers to handle such portfolios.

The press conference follows calls by Africa leaders to the people to vigorously debate the formation of continental Union Government and also an opportunity for the party to contribute to the understanding of the fundamental issues, which make the political, economic and social integration of Africa imperative.

Dr Delle said the CPP emphatically rejected the position that Africa needed to solve its economic and social problems before it embarked on the journey of full political and economic integration. "For us, the integration process is about the collective formulation and implementation of forward looking policies which deal with the economic, political and social problems afflicting the Africa people.

"These problems include underdevelopment, poverty, ignorance, diseases, non-accountable governments and the existence of an unfair international information and economic order, he said." The CPP Chairman pointed out that the issue of common culture and language blocking the integration effort was unacceptable and asked when Africans would have one culture and speak one language. "In any case haven't people who speak different languages with different cultures built union of states which have worked out to improve their social, economic and political status throughout history?" he asked.

Dr Delle said arguments by forces of reaction and neo-colonialism against the unification had tended to be uninformed and baseless. "These forces have contended that the Africa's integration process should be put on hold or gradually implemented because Africans have different histories," Dr Delle said.

He stated that the entire people of Africa had had a shared history of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, classical colonialism, neo-colonialism and racism and the quest for unity was part of the effort to right the wrongs inflicted by the common history of the people.

Dr Delle urged Africa leaders to ensure that the dreams and aspirations of Dr Kwame Nkrumah materialised by forming a Union Government and prove to the world that the African genius could survive the separatist tendencies in sovereign nationhood by coming together speedily.