Africa must dismantle artificial boundaries
The scramble for Africa, a period of intense European colonisation, has left a lasting legacy of challenges for the continent.
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The partitioning of Africa without regard for geographical, historical and ethnic considerations has created artificial boundaries, separating ethnic groups and hindering economic development.
This has resulted in numerous problems, including artificial boundaries separating ethnic groups, language barriers between Anglophone and Francophone countries, and hindrances to trade and unity among African countries
One notable example is the Ewe people, who hail from Ghana, Togo and Benin. This separation has led to cultural and economic disconnections, hindering their collective progress.
Language barriers further exacerbate these issues. The division between Anglophone and Francophone countries creates communication challenges, limiting cooperation and trade.
This has derailed efforts to promote trade and unity among African countries, as seen in the failed initiative by Dr Kwame Nkrumah to unite Africa.
However, there are ongoing efforts to address these challenges. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) aims to establish a common currency, the Eco, to facilitate trade among member states.
The African Continental Free Trade Area, headquartered in Ghana, seeks to boost trade among African countries. These initiatives aim to promote economic integration and cooperation.
Recently, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, called for West African countries to transcend artificial boundaries and language barriers. He emphasised the need for a mechanism to eliminate language barriers and promote trade. This call to action acknowledges the need for a unified approach to address the challenges facing African countries.
To achieve this, African countries must work together by sharing knowledge, promoting education and economic development toward regional integration. Some have even suggested a political union to accelerate integration and development.
This would require harmonised foreign, defence and security policies; cooperation in education and economic development, regional integration and trade facilitation. The Daily Graphic emphasises the need for harmonised policies to promote peaceful coexistence and security. By breaking barriers and harmonising policies, African countries can benefit more from their natural resources and shield themselves from global economic fluctuations.
Pragmatic measures are necessary to achieve these goals. For instance, Anglophone countries can learn French and Portuguese, while Francophone countries can learn English.
African countries can share topics that promote education, economic development and transformation. As the President of the National Assembly of Cote d'Ivoire, Adama Bictogo, stated:
"Through cooperation, our weakness is covered by our strength, and as one family, we must work together and create jobs for the population." This emphasises the importance of unity and cooperation in achieving common goals.
Ultimately, unity is key to achieving common goals and developing the Africa region. By working together and eliminating existing barriers, Africa can promote free movement of people and trade to unlock its full potential. This requires a collective effort from African leaders and citizens to prioritise unity and cooperation.