OAU WAS NOT A FAILURE . AND THE AU IS GRADUALLY BECOMING RELEVANT

So Lets Be Optimistic and Celebrate African Unity



As African Union Day Approaches and analyst begin to dissect the relevance of the Continental body, a lot of commentary will inevitably be about the difficulties and the irrelevance of the AU and also its predecessor the OAU.

But such dismissive commentary fails to do justice to the issue. The OAU in its initial stage was spectacularly successful and achieve most of its objectives. Here some few of such achievements.


1. Decolonization:
In this field, the OAU Co-ordinating Committee for the Liberation of Africa, organized diplomatic support and channelled financial, military and logistical aid to liberation movements. Though much remains to be done before final victory is obtained, the struggle for liberation gained considerable momentum. It is commanding every day increasing support from world opinion. At the United Nations, the liberation struggle is recognized as legitimate. Liberation movements representatives will soon be seated as observers at UN meetings. Through an OAU fund, international support is being channelled to liberated areas in Guinea Bissau, in Angola and Mozambique. OAU has initiated action with the International Court of Justice which has just declared that South Africa had no right to stay in Namibia. Consequently, UN action is being considered for the International territory of Namibia (former South West Africa) to accede to Independence. Likewise, a UN boycott is enacted against Rhodesia's racist minority regime until majority rule is obtained. Every pressure is brought to bear on Great Britain, which, as a colonial power at the time of Smith's Unilateral Declaration of Independence (1965), has to live by its constitutional and moral responsibility towards African majority in Rhodesia. Thus, Portugal, South Africa, Rhodesia and their NATO allies are periodically harassed and condemned for their colonialist and racist policy in Africa, particularly at the United Nations where' the African group commands a near "blocking third" vote.

2. Boundary conflicts
In the ten years of its existence, OAU has been confronted with a number of boundary conflicts in North, East and Central Africa. Thanks to OAU machinery and efforts, these conflicts were settled in a true spirit of African Solidarity without outside intervention or interference. On such occasions, OAU made a name for itself as peacekeeper no. 1 in the continent. The UN General Assembly has paid tribute to OAU for the role played in the maintenance of international peace and security.

3. Defence of Member States' sovereignty and territorial integrity
Action undertaken by OAU in this concern will remain one of its greatest achievements ever:
a)- In the Congo: where imperialism threatened in its supply lines of strategic raw materials (uranium, and copper) vied for disintegration to set up a puppet state.
b)- In Nigeria: where a civil war flared up and threatened the Federal Republic of Nigeria to its very foundation. By throwing its weight on the side of unity, and providing for appropriate machinery (an ad hoc Consultative Committee) OAU helped to prevent secession while maintaining the cohesion of its membership.
c)- In Republic of Egypt: which was aggressed and occupied in parts by Israeli forces in 1967. OAU has strongly condemned this Israeli aggression and demanded the withdrawal of Israeli troops from all occupied Arab territories. Egypt is one of the founding Member States of the Organization of African Unity.
d)- In Guinea: where Portugal's last ditch attempt at colonial reconquest failed. In the wake of this aggression OAU‘s offer of financial and military aid to Guinea, along with its declared war on mercenaries in Africa and the successful information campaign it waged to alert international opinion were all evidence of the usefulness OAU has in facing outside aggression and the outside world.
e) -In Equatorial Guinea: where OAU support enabled the Young Republic to reinforce its newly won independence.

4. The struggle against Apartheid:

Through action of the African group at the United Nations and appropriate information campaigns Apartheid, the abhorred system of state imposed racial discrimination in South Africa, Rhodesia and the International territory of Namibia (South West Africa), has been universally condemned as ''a crime against humanity". (Teheran Conference in 1 968).
As a result of increasing pressure from all quarters, Apartheid South Africa has been forced out of the Commonwealth and a number of specialized institutions of the United Nations family.
In world sports, Apartheid South Africa has been barred from the Olympic Games and from International Tennis Tournaments.

5. Promotion of African Culture:

OAU staged both the 1st All African Cultural Festival (Algiers August 1969) and the First Workshop on African Folklore, Dance and Music (Mogadiscio Somalia) October 1 970.
The first momentous panafrican Festival took place in Algiers, Algeria in August 1969. Never before, had African culture and arts given such a brilliant display of their richness, variety and genius. Above cultural and artistic achievements, this First Festival was the triumph of African solidarity and sense of purpose, the triumph of AFRICANITY.
In Mogadiscio, the workshop on African folklore, dance and music was attended by many scholars and artists of international repute from OAU Member States. The quality of the various contributions is likely to influence any future development of African culture.

6. Fields of economic and social development, transport and telecommunication:

Thanks to OAU efforts, African countries have harmonized their policies with regard to UNCTAD, IBRD, IMF, UNIDO, ILO. Consequently, their claims for better terms of trade, full participation in a new international monetary system and more multilateral aid carry more weight.
Through OAU, African countries have proclaimed their permanent sovereignty over their natural resources, just as they are pressing for a modification of International Law with regard to the continental shelf and territorial waters.
In the social field, progress has been achieved towards the Unification of African Trade Unions and Youth Organizations,
In cooperation with ECA, blueprints for a rational continental telecommunications network and efficient air and road transport have been laid. To fly across Africa from east to west or to make a phone call one need no longer go through Paris or London.
A trans-saharan highway from Algiers (Algeria) to Mali and Niger is being built. Another one from Mombasa, Kenya to Lagos, Nigeria, is under active consideration.
An all african Trade fair, took place in Nairobi, Kenya, ( February 1972).

7. Fields of Education, Science, Health:

In these fields, OAU action may be credited with:
pre-investment studies: fishery projects; an anti-rinder pest campaign that has vaccinated so far a billion dollars worth of cattle, a number of scientific investigations on plant protection, soils, animal health, all of which may be obtained from the OAU/STRC office in Lagos, Nigeria.
pilot projects in the field of earth science: geology, geophysics, the idea being to supply Africa with the most up-to-date know-how and limit the "brain-drain".
In the field of Education, African college graduate should soon be able to move from one African University to another, a scheme of degree equivalence being now devised.
In the field of health, preventive medicine and public health measures are being applied all over Africa.

8. Action in favour of African Refugees:

A bureau for placement and education of African refugees has been in operation at OAU headquarters since 1968. Great many African refugees ever since have been provided with educational and job opportunities. A convention governing aspects of refugee problems in Africa has been adopted by OAU Heads of State in September 1969. To the terms of this convention, a refugee status and right of asylum are recognized to refugees by all independent African countries.
"No longer are refugees subjected to rejection at the frontier, return or expulsion, which would compel them to return to or remain in a territory where their life or freedom would be threatened'. (Article 11 of OAU convention on refugees).


Africa has a long way to go but we also need to be inspired by our past successes and not be overburdened with our challenges. FORWARD EVER!

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Middle East and North African Crisis and The US Reponse

TRUE DEMOCRACY OR NATIONAL INTEREST?
The current upheavals in the Maghreb and the Middle east clearly shows the quandary in which many of the western capitals have dug themselves in over the years.After proping up unrepresentative repressive regimes over the years all in the name of promoting their national interst and ensuring stability in a volatile region while preaching openness freedom and democracy to all bu those regimes- their friends in the region-  the chickens seem to have finally come home to roost.

One of their chummy tyrannical allies has fallen and fled to Saudi Arabia even though all indications points to the fact that they still have a sympathetic cabal in place in Tunisia. Even though the ordinary people who brought down the western backed leader have not given up the revolution. Many western capitals were absolutely shocked at what happened a couple of weeks ago in Tunisia. Now what faces the western nations is even a bigger problem; their closest and strongest ally Egypt is in the middle of an unprecedented revolution.

No matter what happens the country will never be the same again and certainly the relationship with the west especially the US will not be as it was before the revolution. These protests are as much against the ruling class in Egypt as it is against the major western powers especially the US. At the moment there is as much apprehension in Washington and Jerusalem as there is in Cairo.There is more at stake than the leadership and politics of one country.What is at stake is the future of American influence in the region and more importantly the future of Israel.

After propping up the repressive government that has ruled the country under emergency rule for over two decades , most of people outside the ruling class are alienated and even feels hostile to the western nations. These abuses were tolerated primarily because the Egyptian Government claimed any reforms that leads to democracy will inevitably lead to the transfer of power to more radical groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood.

What is refreshing is that there very little involvement of any religious organization much less an extremist religious group in the Egypt protests. It was the case in tunisia and up till now there is no indication that there will be any religious element.

Now ,it is decision time in many western capitals. many of the leaders are afraid of what will come next if Mubarak falls however they are savvy enough not to appear to be on the wrong side when the history of this revolution is written in years to come. Their hypocrisy has caught up with them and any bad move will cost them dearly in a region that occupies a great importance in their foreign policy.

FINNALY SOMEONE STOOD UP TO THE NLC

If there was one institution created by the Kuffour administration that was abhorent to the people of Ghana then it was the National Labour Commission (NLC). Since the draconian Labour Act of 2003 Act 653 was passed and established the NLC, this institution has made it impossible for workers in this country to express themselves in any way. The Act has virtually ostracized industrial action in this country.Since it was established, the NLC has at every opportunity dealt with labour unions unfairly while bootlickers masquerading as Labour consultants justified the NLC's unfair actions. even though the NLC was suppose to be an independent arbiter between workers and employers, they have always been biased in favour of employers. According to the Act they are supposed to enforce resolutions and binding agreements as well as resolve labour issues.However the NLC never enforced a single ruling against employers but always took harsh actions against Workers eve to the extent of pursuing expensive legal actions against workers. Now the NLC has met its match in the UTAG who are seriously challenging their authority and pushing to the middle where they should be.

CENTENARY OF VISION

To some , the message will be hard to swallow but m,any are those who buy into the vision of the Great Founder of Ghana and the Liberator of Africa. The current Government with obvious Nkrumahist Coloration,has done a lot to showcase the achievement of Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah. Tomorrow, the 25th May is Africa unity day and it is fitting that a massive and well publicized event will be organized to celebrate this Great patriot and Pan Africanist.