Making the AU relevant to the ordinary African

Yesterday, the 54th African Union (AU) Day was observed with various activities in member countries, but the real meaning of May 25 is still a subject of debate among Africans.

Since the formation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1963 and the transition to the AU in 2002 ,it has been the dream of African leaders to build a continent that reflects the abundant resources it has. But that dream has been elusive.

Today, the continent still faces problems and difficulties, many of which are self-inflicted.

Although African countries see regional integration as a key component of the development agenda, no concrete efforts have been made to achieve the objective. We are not  trading among ourselves and are only interested in going to the Western world to trade.

In the past, the moment any African state gained independence, it thought it had come of age. Independent countries never thought of mentorship, which would have helped us to make more progress by now.

The principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries makes it very difficult for stronger and other nations to support weaker ones.

Economic independence is out of our reach and the only progress we have made is getting liberated from the colonial powers.

When we fly our flags and play our national anthems, we retire to our endeavours, forgetting that our people want quality health care and good roads, drinking water and education.

Africa can attain these through economic emancipation and this demands that we harness our resources, produce to feed ourselves and export the rest.

Many African countries are rich in resources — gold, diamond, bauxite and other minerals — yet they are the poorest on the globe.

We are endowed with all kinds of water bodies and arable land which place us in a position to feed ourselves and export the rest, but majority of our people are hungry, with some even confronted with famine.

The Daily Graphic makes an appeal to African governments to take another look at the AU Charter and protocols to see how best they can peer review themselves so well that those who are misapplying the resources of their people could be brought to order.

While talking about peer review, we dare ask: where is the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) which has, as one of its strategies, the regular peer review of African leaders?

A day after the celebration of AU Day, we also dare ask whether the holiday is relevant to the ordinary man in Ghana and other African countries.

If it must remain relevant, we remind the present crop of leaders of something somebody told former President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria when NEPAD was launched: that he should move NEPAD from the corridors where the leaders meet to the streets of Lagos and other cities in Nigeria to explain to Nigerians the reasons for NEPAD.

We have reached a stage where our leaders should regularly engage their people on the AU, its achievements since 1963 and its relevance today.

If they are able to do that, May 25, 2018 will not be marked by only officials of state but that the ordinary people will join to observe the day.

That is when the day will have meaning for the man on the street.