Delegates gather in Accra for Harakati conference
Delegates from universities in 17 African countries converged in Accra for the fourth International Annual Conference of the Harakati Za Muungano Union, a pan-African movement advocating political and economic unity across Sub-Saharan Africa. The participating countries included Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa Republic, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.
The conference, held under the theme 'Economic Restructuring, Political Reforms and Integration for Sustainable Development in Africa', aimed to prepare young leaders to work towards the elimination of physical colonial borders and trade barriers.
Danquah calls for reforms and integration
Opening the conference on Friday, Kwame Danquah, President of the International Secretariat of Harakati, called for sweeping reforms and deeper regional integration to help the continent overcome poverty, accelerate industrialisation and strengthen its position in the global economy. He said the gathering was intended to renew the commitment of patriotic Africans to reform, integrate and develop the continent for present and future generations.
Mr Danquah explained that the movement sought to dismantle colonial-era barriers by promoting regional integration, removing trade restrictions and fostering seamless political and economic cooperation across Sub-Saharan Africa. He said the need for Africa's borders to be collapsed had become more pressing in the changing world of trade and commerce.
Economic statistics and trade challenges
Citing the World Bank's 2023 report, Mr Danquah said Africa's combined Gross Domestic Product stood at about US$3 trillion, representing only a small share of the global economy, while the continent accounted for just three per cent of global trade. He also referred to African Union data showing that intra-African trade stood at about 15 per cent, compared with approximately 60 per cent in Europe and 40 per cent in Asia.
Mr Danquah attributed the continent's economic vulnerability to its dependence on primary commodity exports and trade with markets outside Africa, warning that unless African countries undertook bold structural reforms and accelerated industrialisation, they would remain exposed to external economic shocks and protectionist trade policies. He noted that past global economic and financial crises, which were not of Africa's making, had adversely impacted the continent's economic performance because of Africa's fragmentation, weak structures and low levels of industrialisation.
He said Africa must do more to increase its trade capacity, taking advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and that artificial barriers needed to be removed for the continent to increase trade volumes and create a large pool of trained and skilled workers in anticipation of the population surge.
Population growth and youth development
Mr Danquah said Africa's population was projected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050, with Sub-Saharan Africa accounting for much of the growth and more than 60 per cent of its population below the age of 30. He warned that the continent could slip into a demographic trap with increased macroeconomic pressures on urbanisation, education, housing, health and jobs. However, he said the population boom could also be a blessing in disguise with structural and systematic reforms to correct problems of instability, poverty, diseases, underdevelopment and unemployment.
He stressed the need for increased investment in education, technology and infrastructure to equip young people with skills for innovation and economic transformation.
Migration concerns and social security proposal
Mr Danquah expressed concern over the increasing number of African youth embarking on dangerous migration routes, saying, "It is time to fix African economies through integration and reforms." He proposed an integrated African social security framework through a Social Security Penta-Fund comprising a mortgage finance scheme, medical insurance fund, education trust fund, social savings and investment scheme, and a provident and pensions fund. He said the framework would strengthen social protection and mobilise long-term investment capital for infrastructure and industrial development.
Closing remarks
Mr Danquah urged participants to leave the conference committed to advancing the vision of a politically united and economically integrated Sub-Saharan Africa. He said leaders on their various campuses were being prepared for future national leadership, and the onus rested on the delegates to bear in mind what is expected of them when the mantle of leadership falls on them.