After African states REGAINED their hard-fought independence, there emerged the DIRE NEED of consolidating this independence through UNITING the independent states. This need was shown in Africans' understanding that ONLY through ONE NATION would their STRENGTH and ABILITY be portrayed, just as initially they had believed before the coming of imperialists.
This school of thought was passionately pursued by Kwame Nkrumah, who was the first sub-Saharan black African to lead his state to independence. On the eve of independence at midnight when the Union Jack's flag came down and Ghana's one rose, Nkrumah and Africans across Africa SHED tears of joy as a black man had defeated imperialism. At that time, Nkrumah's speech ECHOED across Africa, URGING everyone that Ghana's independence meant nothing if it was not TIED with the LIBERATION of Africa.
In December 1958, the All African People's Congress was held in Ghana, the first Pan-African meeting on the continent, in which Nkrumah echoed the need for every African to fight for the EMANCIPATION of their state and also reminded everyone that the main GOAL was to UNITE Africa.
Initial steps towards unity were undertaken; for example, after Guinea regained her independence under Sekou Toure, Nkrumah signed a treaty of Union in November 1958, which would be a blueprint to unite Africa. Later, Mali regained her independence and joined the Guinea-Ghana union in December 1959. Nkrumah still, in January 1961, met with Egypt, Libya representatives, Algerian FLN, and Morocco, where an assembly was agreed upon, which was to address issues affecting those states with the aim of joining the Guinea-Ghana-Mali Union.
Things began to SOUR in the early 1960s when other states began to view Nkrumah with mistrust and jealousy, which was being FUELLED by forces that knew a united Africa was a threat to their EXPLOITATIVE activities in Africa. The states of Africa began to be divided into three different schools of thought: CASABLANCA group, MONROVIA group, and BRAZZAVILLE group. These divisions were based on the approach for uniting Africa. This groupings had their champions with Nkrumah, Abubakar Balewa of Nigeria, and Houmphet Boigny of Ivory Coast respectively. Each group had its own view on unity, with the Casablanca group advocating for UNITY NOW, Monrovia one advocating for a GRADUAL approach, and the Brazzaville torn in between the two.
Despite these ideological differences, all independent African heads of state met together in Addis Ababa to discuss the way forward for Africa. All African leaders spoke, but Nkrumah emerged very passionately in his appeal for unity now.
Nkrumah reminded Africans that if we FAIL to unite, our HARD-WON independence would mean nothing, as it would be easily LOST. He warned that the colonialists whose economic success DEPENDED on the exploitation of African resources were not going to leave us alone. He warned of a new form of imperialism under NEOCOLONIALISM, which had begun to be evident through French colonial powers establishing secret treaties of PERMANENT military bases in their former colonies. He warned that failure to unite would spell doom for Africans and lead to our PERISH in the global world. Nkrumah even warned that Africa's poor economy was due to HAEMORRHAGES of African resources which were being used for the benefit of others.
Despite all warnings, then African leaders chose to use a gradual approach to unity, with even some myopic African leaders vowing never to surrender their acquired SOVEREIGNTY. From the meeting, an Organisation of Africa Unity was formed whose key mandate was to help other states fighting to regain independence.
In as much as Nkrumah was unable to show African leaders the need for unity now, he never GAVE UP and continued to push for unity in every way possible such that in the constitution there is a clause that Ghana should LOSE its sovereignty for the sake of African unity.
With the inheritance of colonial borders and Africa becoming a PREY to the interests of foreign powers, we have become SUSCEPTIBLE to manipulations of other powers such that even now we comfortably accept military bases of other imperialist powers. Africa cannot FEED herself, EDUCATE her children well, TREAT her sick, and DEFEND herself against any threat outside and even within.
It is these misfortunes of DEPENDENCY, INSECURITY, INTERNAL DIVISIONS, UNEMPLOYMENT, POOR LEADERSHIP, and WEAK ECONOMY that we were warned would befall upon us if we remain UN-UNITED. And BEFALLING, THEY HAVE DONE SO.
