By Samuel Ouma
Samia Nkrumah, daughter of Ghana’s first President and revered Pan-Africanist Kwame Nkrumah, has pleaded with African states to unite to address the continent’s challenges and drive its development.
Speaking at the All-African Movement Assembly in Accra, Ghana, Samia emphasized that the key to Africa’s progress lies in collective action and the integration of efforts among its leaders.
Drawing on the history of African independence, Samia explained how the continent’s liberation from colonial rule was largely achieved through solidarity among nations.
She noted that countries that had already gained independence were instrumental in supporting those still under colonial rule, stressing that this spirit of unity was critical in the success of the independence movements across Africa.
“It is through unity that independence was achieved in different countries. Those who had attained independence supported those who were yet to achieve it. We were not going to achieve independence alone; we needed assistance from each other,” Samia said.
Samia argued that the same principle of unity is essential for tackling contemporary issues facing Africa, from economic stagnation to political instability. She emphasized the importance of African nations sharing experiences, knowledge, and ideas to develop innovative solutions that can uplift their citizens.
The Pan-Africanism advocate also stressed the significant role of young people in this unification process. She urged African leaders not to exclude the youth, who constitute the largest demographic on the continent, from decision-making processes.
According to her, young people have the potential to transform Africa’s economic and political landscape, and their inclusion is crucial for sustainable development.
“We need to move forward together without leaving anyone behind. It is essential to build unity with young people who form the largest part of the population on the continent. Let’s focus on what will take us a step higher,” she added.
In her call for unity, Samia proposed several concrete steps to strengthen the continent’s cohesion. She advocated for the establishment of a common African army to address the rising insecurity in various regions.
She also called for the creation of a common market and a common currency, which she believes would significantly boost trade by easing the movement of goods and services across borders.
“Africans must have a common political unity, political integration, a common market, a common currency, and a monetary zone. If Africans speak with one voice, nobody will say they can’t hear us,” Samia asserted.
