This archive report was first published on 28 August 2019.
Africa's Quest for Unity and Economic Growth ¶
On March 21st, 2018, forty African countries signed the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, aiming to create one of the largest economic blocks in the world. This move is seen as a step towards the envisioned 'United States of Africa,' a concept championed by Kwame Nkrumah and Muammar Gaddafi.
However, Africa's problem lies not in the lack of brilliant ideas, but in the implementation of these ideas. The continent has been plagued by corruption, maladministration, and poor governance, which have hindered its progress. As the author notes, 'Africa keeps behaving like a night hunter whose main interest is to shoot down the only available stars on her sky through abuse of power and poor administrative decisions.'
The AfCFTA agreement faces significant challenges, including the hold-up by Nigeria and South Africa, two of Africa's largest economies. Moreover, the continent is plagued by issues such as foreign debt, colonial legacies, and poor infrastructure, which hinder its ability to succeed in trade and economic growth.
One of the key challenges facing Africa is the lack of standardization in its infrastructure, including railways and road networks. As an old man from Ghana noted, 'how Africa hopes to succeed in the continental transnational trade with different gauges of the railway?' This question highlights the need for Africa to address its infrastructure challenges if it is to succeed in trade and economic growth.
Africa has had several regional trade blocks, but their success has been minimal. The East African Community is a case in point, where Tanzania confiscates cattle from Maasai herders from Kenya and auctions them away. This highlights the need for Africa to address its governance issues and ensure that its trade agreements are implemented effectively.
As the author notes, 'Africa needs to get it right otherwise the sleeping lion it has been said to be risks becoming a dead lion.' The success of the AfCFTA agreement depends on addressing the underlying issues that have hindered Africa's progress in the past.
