Public Agenda (Accra)
29 June 2009
editorial
Accra — The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has just out-doored the 2009 edition of its Economic Development in Africa Report in which it argues that the global financial crisis has brought about the need for a re-examination of current approaches to international development.
Most importantly, the report says global financial crisis even makes more pressing for Africa to integrate quickly.
Deeper regional integration, the reported noted, "would address the long-standing structural weaknesses of African economies."
Indeed, what the report said is nothing new. At the founding conference of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1963, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah gave an 11-point proposal to his colleague heads of state to consider. Top on the list was Dr. Nkrumah's call for the establishment of an African common market, a common African currency, an African monetary zone, and an African central bank.
More than 40 years down the line, Africa is still struggling to galvanize its forces and work under one umbrella for sustainable economic development. For instance, intra-Ecowas trade is a mere 11 percent. While Europe remains Ecowas' biggest trading partner, countries in the sub region continue to make the movement of goods and people near impossible.
One item in the integration process that continues to dog Ecowas countries has been the introduction of a common currency in the sub-region. Deadlines have been postponed several times because member countries have failed to meet the convergence criteria. At the mid-year summit in Abuja the 2009 deadline was pushed to 2015.
Suspicion and sheer lack of commitment on the part of the leaders have been blamed for the sorry state of affairs regarding regional integration on the continent. Protocols on the free movement of people and of persons are hardly respected by member countries while infrastructure needed for transport has largely remained poor.
At the moment, Ghana's harbours are unable to cope with the increasing imports and traffic from Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso. The Tema harbour for instance is badly congested due to the lack of space for the huge imports by the neighbouring countries.
This newspaper urges African leaders to move beyond the meetings upon meetings and begin to ensure that their real integration is achieved for the African continent. The paper particularly urges the Government of Ghana, since Ghana's foreign policy of focusing on regional integration remains unchanged, to rekindle the lead role the country played in former times in working towards a unified front for Africa's development.
As the report noted, there is a new wave of optimism across the continent that integration is crucial for accelerated development. For this reason, Ecowas leaders and to a large extent leaders of other regional groupings should adopt policies to accelerate the phases of integration, including the establishment of free trade areas, common markets, customs unions and monetary unions.
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I .BEWARE OF THE TOWER BUILDERS
A. THE TOWER BUILDERS ??? 1. Look at the story of Nimrod and his one world crew in Genesis 11: 1-8. • Nimord was a builder of cities and a mighty hunter . He was well-known for his feats and apparently could attract a lot of people to him. He must have been extremely- charismatic. • Nimrod and the people acted completely as one body. There goal was to reach Heaven via building a tower; sort of like the space programs ( known & secret ). • God delayed their goals by mixing up their language so they could not understand each other. • Daniel 8:10 mentions what I believe to be a reference to the Nimrod of the last days (led by D-Evil) .This verse may also be referring to the space program as one of the Towers of Babel being used to attack the Kingdom of Heaven . 2. Beware of any attempts by man to unite the world as one ; for the good of all. Here are two examples that come to mind : • Simulcasting of the song “We Are The World “ . I believe the actual tragedy of starving Ethiopians , coupled with our common love of music was used to get the world to thinking that we can save ourselves. • This was followed by mini-movements like “Hands-Across America “ and other movements ; which I believe were trying to get us to thinking like those people were thinking when Nimrod proposed that they build a Tower to Heaven. 3. Beware The Tower Builders ! God is Our Refuge ! Our Tower !
OUR DEEPEST FEAR By Marianne Williamson
Our Deepest Fear Is Not That We Are Inadequate, Our Deepest Fear Is That We Are Powerful Beyond Measure. It Is Our Light , Not Our Darkness That Most Frightens Us.
We Ask Ourselves, Who Am I To Be Brilliant, Gorgeous, Talented, And Fabulous ?
Actually Who Are We Not To Be ? You Are A Child Of God.
Your Playing Small Doesn’t Serve The World.
There Is Nothing Enlightened About Shrinking So That Other People Won’t Feel Insecure Around You.
We Are All Meant To Shine, As Children Do.
We Were Born To Make Manifest The Glory Of God That Is Within Us.
It’s Not Just In Some Of Us; It’s In Everyone.
And When We Let Our Own Light Shine We Unconsciously Give Other People Permission To Do The Same.
And As We Are Liberated From Our Own Fear, Our Presence Automatically Liberates Others
[NOTE – BEING AFRAID AND REFUSING TO GET INVOLVED WON’T STOP US FROM DYING. BUT BEING AFRAID CAN PREVENT US FROM LIVING]
(Nkosi Sikeleli Africa )
God bless Africa May her glory be lifted high Hear our petitions .
God bless us, Your children God we ask You to protect our nation Intervene and end all conflicts Protect us, protect our nation, our nation.
From the blue of our heaven, From the depths of our sea, Over our eternal mountain ranges, Where the cliffs give answer.
Sounds the call to come together, And united we shall stand, Let us live and strive for freedom, In South Africa our land.
[Enoch Mankayi Sontonga]
WAKE UP ! STAY UP MY BROTHERS & SISTERS ! BE SELF-SUFFICIENT IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
[http://www.infowars.com/infowars.asx] / [gcnlive.com] / [http://alexjonesringtones.net/]
- Life Is a Game. Have Fun. [ Luke 18:17 / Isaiah 11:6 ]