Story : Kukua Snead- Michaels
Veteran journalist and Pan-Africanist Cameron Duodu has called for renewed African unity and greater commitment to the continent’s future, arguing that the African Union is not living up to the expectations of many Africans.
Speaking in an interview with ATV ahead of his birthday on May 24 — just a day before Africa Day celebrations on May 25 — Mr Duodu reflected on the state of the continent and the lingering effects of colonialism on African societies.
He questioned how many Africans were genuinely interested in the future of Africa, wondering the way Africans sometimes treat one another as evidence that divisions continue to undermine the continent’s progress.
According to him, the partition of Africa during the 1884 Berlin Conference and more than a century of colonial rule created mindsets that still affect how Africans think and relate to one another.
“The cost is the division of Africa in 1884 and a hundred years of colonisation,” he said, explaining that many Africans were conditioned to think in certain ways that did not necessarily serve African interests.
The veteran joitnalist, however, expressed optimism that younger generations were beginning to realise that Africa’s future ultimately lied in the hands of Africans themselves.
He noted that despite the continent’s struggles, Africa had made progress in areas that once seemed impossible, including technological advancement and the emergence of African-owned financial institutions.
The prolific writer acknowledged that many African governments had failed to adequately address economic and socio-economic challenges but stressed that such problems were complex and could be solved immediately.
Drawing comparisons with South Africa, he pointed out that crime existed during apartheid, and continued after Nelson Mandela assumed office, and still remained a challenge today.
According to him, social problems and attitudes developed over decades cannot disappear overnight.
Duodu also condemned xenophobia and argued that citizens of African countries should not be punished because of the economic shortcomings of their governments.
He said many people in Ghana, Nigeria and Liberia did not receive accurate information about developments in South Africa.
Even if South Africa achieved full employment, he argued, xenophobia would still persist because tensions within society go beyond economic competition.
“Education is the most important tool to use to stop xenophobia,” he stressed.
Duodu concluded by urging Africans not to lose sight of the importance of unity, warning that the continent risked undermining its own progress if Africans failed to work together toward a common future.
