Hifikepunye Pohamba casts doubts on one African government

Former Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba has cast doubts over Africa forming one government as part of the long-standing agenda to unite the continent.

Addressing a press conference at Tamale in the Northern Region, Mr Pohamba said the agenda by the African liberation fighters, including Ghana’s first president Dr Kwame Nkrumah to form one government would happen but not now.

Mr Pohamba is in the country to deliver lectures as part of the Africa Leadership Lectures instituted by the University for Development Studies (UDS).

The Africa Leadership Lectures, a three-day lecture series held annually, is intended to contribute to a national and transnational discourse on productive leadership culture that will support and enhance African development.

This year’s lectures, which started on April 27, would be climaxed on Friday April 29, with a special congregation in Tamale where UDS would confer a Doctorate Degree on Mr Pohamba for his exemplary leadership.

Mr Pohamba who was recently adjudged the best African president for 2014 and honoured last November with the Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership, said Africa’s inability to realize the dream of forming one government was as a result of colonialism, which divided the continent along various political lines with the countries affirming allegiance to their colonial masters.

He said for Africa to form one government, there was the need for governments on the continent to start the unity process through strengthening the various regional organizations such as the Economic Community of West African States.

He spoke against conflicts on the continent saying that they were derailing efforts at ensuring accelerated development.

Professor Stephen Kendie, Chairman of the Governing Council of UDS, said the UDS has become a leader in public discourse with the institution of the Africa Leadership Lectures, which had become a source of inspiration for the youth as they learned from previous leaders of the continent.

Source: GNA