DFP urges African countries to deepen unity

Accra, May 24, GNA - The Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) on Wednesday urged African countries to strive towards deepening the pursuit of African unity, which was strongly championed by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah but has not been handled properly for the growth and development of the continent.

"Let us avoid using the platforms of the African Union (AU) as a talking shop since so far there have not been any bold and concrete steps towards making the AU a strong and veritable institution capable of playing its role of championing Africa's cause in world politics," it said in a statement to mark AU Day, which falls on Friday. The statement signed by the Interim National Chairman of DFP, Alhaji Rahman Isaka, said Dr Kwame Nkrumah led African leaders and governments through unity so that the continent would have sound economic growth and meaningful development for the benefit and comfort of its people.

The DFP said it believed that it was time to concretize the road map for Africa's unity as early as possible and therefore charged the government to articulate this road map and work for its adoption at the July Summit to be hosted by Ghana which is chairman of the continental body.

It said the AU stood to gain a stronger bargaining power to strengthen its economic growth and development and enhance the intra- and inter-African trade.

"A stronger Africa would reduce intra-and inter-state conflicts in order to promote peace and understanding through good governance. "Indeed, African unity will be a necessary attraction for skilled manpower development and utilization and also serve as a beacon to the many sons and daughters of Africa in the Diaspora who have wished to return to their roots but for the kind of instability and self-imposed conditions of poverty and misfortunes that exist." The statement said the destiny of Africa had once again fallen on the lap of Ghana to articulate. Therefore the boldness that existed in the people to lead Africa to political independence must be the same or greater to champion Africa's economic independence during this 21st century. DFP congratulated the chairman of AU, President John Agyekum Kufuor on the occasion of this year's celebration and said the party strongly believed that this year's summit was an opportunity "to re-establish ourselves at the forefront of Africa's forward march".