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Momodou
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 Posted - 10 Jul 2007 : 19:07:50
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UTG DEBATE ON AFRICAN UNITY
By Isatou Bittaye
The University of The Gambia, in collaboration with the Department of State for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology on Friday held a symposium on the "Unification of African States into one Federation" at the School of Nursing in Banjul. The debate was aimed at feeling the pulse of the students on the 'Grand Debate' on the formation of a Union government in Africa.
Mr. Gumbo Ali Touray, Chair of International Affairs at the UTG and who chaired the session, said some considered the idea as necessary, some not yet due and others believed that Africa should not be under one federation.
Contributing at the symposium, Mr. Demba Ceesay, Registrar of The Gambia College, said the founding leaders of Africa had the dream of one Africa. Mr. Ceesay said the dream was not possible but argued that it is now the time for African countries to be together. He noted that it is important for Africa to unite but that the time has not come yet. He said inorder to have one Africa, issues such as the health, economy, political conflict; Education and Ecological problems must be addressed first.
Dr. Abubacarr Senghore, lecturer at UTG, said that Africa inherited different colonial legacies. He added that in Africa there exists political identity, ethnic belonging, ideological and religious backgrounds and that for African unification to be realised these problems must be addressed. He argued that issues of poverty, corruption, press freedom and human rights, rule of law and other crisis should be dealt with first before African unity; that crisis exist as a result of the ineffectiveness of different African organisations, the absence of political will and that transparency and accountability must exist for African Unity. Dr. Senghoe noted that the only solution for African unification is change of attitudes.
Mr. Sheik Omar Faye, who represented the Management Development Institute, said that African Union is feasible but inorder for Africa to be united there must exist a unified language which should be accepted by all. He said that there exists in Africa antagonism, lack of tolerance, greed and selfishness which, according to him, are impediments for economic growth. He noted that the issue of gender, security, patriotism, sense of belonging and self-confidence must also be addressed. Mr. Faye added that poverty, which is a global issue, must also be dealt with for African unity.
Dr. Buhari Sillah, Head of Department for Economics and Management at UTG, noted that there exist different economic blocks in the world. Dr. Sillah added that African countries cannot survive in the face of global economic blocks such as U.S and E.U but can only do so when there is one continental economic block for Africa. He noted that countries gain in trade because of the ability to bargain and Africa is loosing in trade because they lack the bargaining power. Mr. Sillah said that there is need for Africa to come together.
Dr. Omar Jah, Head of Department for Humanities and Languages at UTG, began his contribution by asking a question 'Are we independent?' . He said one must have an identity before being able to unite. He said that people are now leaving in realities that cannot be resisted. He added that for the unification of Africa, the shift from leadership initiation to grass root initiation is important. Dr. Jah said Africa has the right to be independent.
Dr. Lamin Sidibeh, Head of Department for Social Sciences UTG, said the United States of Africa is long over due. He noted that group coherence is needed and that the fundamental determinant issues, such as behavioural aspects, passive values and expectations, organisational and cultural pluralism should be addressed. He noted that Africa unification is possible with determination and commitment. Dr. Sidibeh said that it should start from the membership stage, then to the confrontation stage, differentiation and collaborative stage.
Mr. Kakai Sanyang, who represented The Gambia Technical and Training Institute (GTTI), said political, economic, military and cultural disparities are the stumbling blocks for African Unity. He said that Africa can be united. The issue is now how to do it.
Dr. Saja Taal, a Political Science lecturer at UTG, said African unification is inevitable but the will of the people must be taken into account. He added that there exists the intellectual, illiterate and poor groups and the lack of awareness. Dr. Taal noted that the issue of free movement and need for integration should be addressed. He added that for effective integration there should be continental infrastructural development.
Halifa Sallah, a former member of the Pan African Parliament and one of its advisers on the grand debate indicated that the panellists will have a conceptual problem unless the debate is contextualised.
He said the debate must either be based on the essence and outcome of the grand debate in Accra or the general opinion of the panelists.
Regarding the grand debate he clarified that the study commissioned by a committee of seven heads of state on the union government and United States of Africa has been debated in Ghana and consensus has been reached to form both a government and a state; that they are now working on a time frame and road map to be reviewed in the 10th summit in January 2008.
On the general opinions, he observed that if religious, ethnic, racial, linguistic and other differences, as well as poverty could be an obstacle to the founding of a state there would not have been a single independent state on the continent today. He said that the time was too short otherwise he would give examples of the many continental instruments, institutions, policies and programmes that are collecting dust which provides all the basis to found an African government and state. He finally called for the continuation of the debate.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No.79/2007, 9-10 July, 2007
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