The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) project has been urged to be swiftly implemented, and heads of state from AU members have been asked to demonstrate more commitment.
This is due to the AfCFTA's implementation being one of the most important achievements the AU has made since its transition on July 9, 2002.
Furthermore, the AfCFTA's swift and effective implementation will eventually make the AU relevant to the continent's citizens.
It will also give context to the organization's shift from the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which had a strong political orientation as opposed to the AU's preference for economic integration in Africa.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra last Tuesday on the significance of Africa Day (formerly known as African Freedom Day and African Liberation Day), Senior Partner and Founder of AB & David, Africa, a Pan African Business Law Firm, David Ofosu-Dorte, made the comment.
It is the yearly remembrance of the OAU's founding on May 25, 1963.
It is observed worldwide and in a number of nations on the African continent.
The institution became the AU on July 9, 2002, in Durban, South Africa, although the anniversary is still observed on May 25 every year.
Although we appear to have a strong desire to unite and develop a single, large African market, we are instead making bilateral deals with different countries.
Mr. Ofosu-Dorte stressed that "different countries outside of Africa ultimately undermine what we want to achieve."
Achievements and difficulties
He said that one of the important achievements of the AU was the implementation of the AfCFTA, which followed efforts to realise Agenda 2063.
But, he acknowledged, it took longer to implement than he anticipated.
Due to their lack of commitment to raising the cash required to expedite the AfCFTA process, he blamed the situation on the political leaders of member nations having attitude problems.
"I mean, if you have a group that, to the best of my knowledge, receives more than 70% of its funding from outside the continent, that group is undoubtedly problematic." Not the finest to write home about, which indicates that the external effects are quite strong, continued Mr. Ofosu-Dorte.
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