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Read, Debate: Engage.
| topic: | Economic Opportunity |
|---|---|
| located: | Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Ghana, Guinea |
| editor: | Bob Koigi |
More than five decades ago, Africa coalesced around the philosophy of harmony and triumph over colonialism, slavery and apartheid. The spirit of Pan Africanism as chaperoned by the founding fathers – among them Ghana’s Kwame Nkrumah, Tanzania’s Julius Nyerere, Zambia’s Kenneth Kaunda, Guinea's Sékou Touré and other sons of the soil birthed the Organization of African Unity, a prelude to today's African Union.
With a clear vision to steer the continent towards solidarity and unity in diversity, the spirit of pan Africanism gained steam even as Africa continued to battle major headwinds among them diseases, poverty and conflict.
As the continent marks Africa Day today, it still is a long walk to freedom, economic emancipation and prosperity as envisioned by the fathers of independence. There are definitely major milestones the continent should be proud of having achieved under the African Union, including enhanced integration, women and youth empowerment, peace and security. The bulk of the 55 member states have demonstrated in word and deed their unwavering commitment to see Africa rising.
On the flipside however, Africa continues to be blighted by an avalanche of challenges, including decades-long armed conflicts in DR Congo, Central Africa Republic and the Sahel, illegitimate governments, corruption, climate change emerging diseases and cyclic poverty. With an ambitious blueprint, dubbed Agenda 2063, the African Union is betting on the master plan to transform Africa into the global powerhouse of the future.
But the real test of the 21st-century renaissance is hinged on the ability of the umbrella continental body and its member states to be people-centric by connecting the grand plans and boardroom talk to the everyday struggles of ordinary Africans.
The African Union requires Africans to actualise its 2063 dreams. It is time it made every African a part of it, just like its predecessors aggressively championed the spirit of Pan Africanism that has inspired the continent’s journey to date.
Image by jason sackey
