Include African youth and students unions — In African unity in deliberations

SOME student representatives at the University of Ghana, Legon, have called for an inclusion of youth and students unions in Africa in deliberations leading to African unity.
They agreed that the agenda of unity in Africa could not be spearheaded without the output of the youth who constituted the majority of the continent’s population.
The President of the Students Representative Council (SRC) of the university, Mr John Mark Bekui, at a panel discussion with leaders and members of halls at the university, said it was important for the youth across Africa to collectively have a united front to let the world know that they were in support of African unity.
“If the leaders are not going to call on us, we should be considering ways we can impose ourselves on them,” he stated, adding, “If the mountain is not going to come to you, then you have to go to the mountain.”
The discussion was in recognition of the African Union Day, May 25, and how the youth across Africa could contribute in spearheading African unity.
It was facilitated by Wailing youth for a united Africa (WAIYUA), a youth advocacy group, and the Legon SRC.
The discussions focused mainly on whether Africans desired a unitary government, whether it was possible, what and how it could be done, the challenges and the way forward with the active involvement of the youth across the continent.
The President of WAIYUA, Mr Crusader Sampson Babson, said there was no way continental unity could be achieved considering the continuing neglect of youth participation.
He said the formation of a union government was long overdue and that the long awaited union government could only be achieved through the involvement of the youth, student groups and associations.
The President of the Commonwealth Hall, Mr Bernard Oduro Takyi, who agreed with the inclusion of students in deliberations leading to African unity, however, opposed the idea that Africa could develop only through integration.
He said the Organisation of Africa Unity was not successful, hence the AU would also not be successful because the colonial culture and ideologies inculcated in Africans by their colonial masters were still in place.
“We need selfless leadership and a paradigm shift from our way of doing things before we can unite or develop,” he added.
A member of the Akuafo Hall, Mr Clement Amegatse, agreed that the youth needed to be involved in the whole African unity process but stated emphatically that “Africa is not ready to unite” and that until Africa was ready, the whole continent would remain where it was.
He said the leadership of the continent was not committed at all to the cause of African unity, adding, for example, that the former President of Liberia, Charles Taylor, was made to believe that if he relinquished power, he was going to be supported by African leaders, but he was given up to the West and currently standing trial outside Africa — a sign of lack of political commitment to the cause of African unity.
“Consider the Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi, who is championing the African unity agenda. Even in his own country how does he treat immigrants?” he asked.
The President of the Mensah Sarbah Hall, Mr Stephen Forson, also agreed with the inclusion of the youth in championing African unity but argued that theoretically Africans were united but they were practically not.
He said until all the conflicts in Africa were resolved, it was going to be very difficult for Africa to unite, stating that it would be possible only if the youth in Africa had one mindset to break what was regarded as barriers to African unity.