“OAU FOUNDING FATHERS ROAR IN SILENCE”

Half a century (50 years) in the life of anyone or an organization is no joke. At such age, one might have accomplished a lot of his or childhood dreams including profession. Failing to achieve his or her principal goal might be considered by others as a “disappointment”

The above could be the very words of the founding fathers of the Organization of African Unity(OAU) now African Union(AU) who laid what was supposed to be the very foundation of what would unite the African continent on 25th May,1963. The dream of having a united continent which would use and control its resources, started with the independence of Ghana (Gold Coast) in 1957.

On the eve of the independence, Ghana’s first Prime Minister, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah told the whole world that “ Our independence is meaningless unless it is linked up with the total liberation of the African.” This he did by helping other African countries which were still under colonial rule to gain independence. By 1963, about 34 African countries had gained independence.

The likes of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah(Ghana), Emperor Haile Selassie I(Ethiopia) among others, at the time, saw the need to have a united continent which would use its resources to ameliorate the lives of its people as well as making Africa a “paradise” on earth.

In Dr. Nkrumah’s speech at the first session of the Organization, he said “ I am happy to be here in Addis Ababa on this most historic occasion. I bring with me the hopes and fraternal greetings of the government and people of Ghana.” “Our objective is African union now. There is no to waste. We must unite now or perish.”… and determination, we shall lay here the foundations for a continental Union of African States.”

With the urge and fire burning in them, these leaders started what is known as African Union (AU) today.

Though some heads of states at the time were caught between accepting such ideas and remaining outside the union as sovereign states, they were very optimistic that the unity being sought after could be established one day but which day this was going to be, no one knew.

Since then, every 25th May has become a very important day on the calendar of African leaders....