TINKARO OF AFRICA WRITES…..
Today marks an important day in the history of our continent. Today is a day for Africa ,a day of hope and strength and a day for revamping our desire in our African descent and for Unity .
The African Union Day is a moment of great magnitude in the institutional evolution of the continent.
The Desire of the African Union is to seek out and develop an integrated ,prosperous and peaceful Africa ,driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.
Western prejudice of Africa has been without remorse and more profound in its devastation.
In the late 19th Century ,a German Philosopher ,Hegel ,stated that “Africa is no historical part of the world and it has no movement or development to exhibit ”
In 1923 ,a distinguished British historian ,A .P Newton , gave his view that “History only begins when men takes to writing and that it is concerned almost entirely with written records and can only make use of material remains with which the archeologist and anthropologist are concerned and since Africans were non literate before European colonialism ,they could not have produced any worthwhile history ”
Margery Perham ,another researcher wrote that until the Penetration by Europe ,the greater part of the continent of Africa was without the wheel ,the plough and almost store houses or clothes except for skins without writing and so without history ”
We have come a long way as a continent and as Africans .
Many leaders have selflessly sacrificed their lives for the transformation of our individual and collective goals as Blacks .
What Newton said in 1923 was reechoed in 1962 by professor Hugh Trevor Roper who opined that “Perhaps in the future there will be some African history to teach but at present there is none ;there is only European History in Africa. The rest is darkness and darkness is not a subject of history..
Roper further argued that ” In Africa there is only unrewarding gyration of barbarous tribes in picturesque but irrelevant corners of the globe “.
These opinions and comments stated above is not being given out as we celebrate our Africa Union day just for you to know how far we have come as people but to encourage and motivate you to understand and to know the tears and fears that have marked the struggle for liberation.
The focus of African Union has moved from supporting liberation movements as envisaged by the OAU but rather;
1.To achieve greater unity and solidarity between the African countries and the peoples of Africa;
2;To defend the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of its Member States;
3 ;To accelerate the political and socio- economic integration of the continent;
4; To promote and defend African common positions on issues of interest to the continent and its peoples;
5;To encourage international cooperation, taking due account of the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
6;To promote peace, security, and stability on the continent;
7; To promote democratic principles and institutions, popular participation and good governance;
8 ;To promote and protect human and peoples’ rights in accordance with the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and other relevant human rights instruments;
9;To establish the necessary conditions which enable the continent to play its rightful role in the global economy and in international negotiations;
10; To promote sustainable development at the economic, social and cultural levels as well as the integration of African economies ,among others.
The African Union has come a very long way, equally coupled with many challenges but in all ,the Union has contributed to the service of humanity.
As we celebrate this day ,let us show love towards our fellow blacks in all things we do .
Let us remember the sacrifice of our past leaders as well, for their service to the success of the African Story.
Let us remain focused for the future.
God bless Africa!!
God bless Ghana!!
Let us continue to believe in the power of the Black Power !
Black Is Power.
Africa Is Power .
SIGNED
RICHMOND ASARE TINKARO (RAT)
NUGS President (University of Ghana ) (2015/2016)
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