LEAD Africa

Inspiring leadership for a

sustainable world

LEAD Anglophone West

Africa
Prof. Adeniyi Osuntogun
8 Thornburn Avenue
P.O. Box 664
Yaba, Lagos
Nigeria
T +234 (0)1 774 2076
+234 (0)1 872 3455
F +234 (0)1 264 2603
E lead@lead.org.ng
W www.lead.org.ng

LEAD Francophone Africa

Masse Lo
54 Rue Carnot
B.P. 3370
Dakar
Senegal
T +221 (0)8 89 34 30
The project of an African Government +221 (0)8 42 05 43
F +221 (0)8 42 88 94

Points of view from LEAD Africa E lead-af@enda.sn

W fa.lead.org

network members LEAD Southern & Eastern

Africa
Prof. Sosten Chiotha
University of Malawi
Chancellor College
P.O. Box 280
Zomba, Malawi
T +265 1 526 059
F +265 1 524 251
E lead@chanco.unima.mw
W sa.lead.org

LEAD Africa is a Pan-African initiative between three LEAD Member Programmes: Francophone Africa, Anglophone West
Africa,
Southern and Eastern Africa. For more information, please email: info@leadinafrica.org or visit www.leadinafrica.org

LEAD Africa C/O B.P. 3370 Dakar Senegal T + 221 8 89 34 30 +221 8 42 05 43 Fax +221 8 42 88 94 email :
 AN AFRICAN GOVERNMENT
Lead Africas point of view

AT THE BEGINNING WAS DR NKRUMAHS DREAM:

July 1963, Addis Ababa - July 2007, Accra. Between these two critical meetings for
Africa, so many things have happened in the field of Africas development. A 44-year-
old chaotic mileage separates the two dates, from the founding fathers newly
independent African states summit and the next African Union summit that is to be
held on July 1st to 3rd 2007 in Accra, Ghanas capital. A near carnal bond casts a
bridge over the two events. It was, indeed the first president of independent Ghana who
coined the idea of creating the United States of Africa during the Addis Ababa summit.
But whereas panafricanists like Nkrumah and Cheikh Anta Diop, composing the
Casablanca Group, the revolutionaries group, were fighting for the creation of the
United States of Africa at the outbreak of the independences, it was the option
consisting of maintaining as such the fragmented states cut out by the colonial system to
its dimension represented by the Monrovia Group, the group of the moderate like
Lopold Sdar Senghor that finally prevailed, with the successes and failures we are
familiar with today. By an ironical twist of fate, forty-four years after such splits, it is
Dr. Nkrumahs country and successor that is going to host the African Union Summit
that will launch the formation of the African government, the prelude to the United
States of Africa, so dear to the first president of Independent Ghana. The Nkrumahist
dream is getting back home and the utopia is beginning to come true.

I. The Accra 2007 decision makers responsibility

On the eve of this continental consultation, the discussions over the African Union
governments formation are once pitting against each other two schools of thought. There is
on the one hand the very cautious school of thought that advocates a gradual approach: the
cold feet , recalling the tortoises slow progress towards the United States of Africa under
easy sail. The other school of thought, quite volunteering, wants to move fast and holds,
contrary to those who like to go slowly, that Africa has already wasted too much time
relatively to the rest of the world that has already clustered into regional blocs of economic
development. These adepts of the proactive approach advocate an aggressive, quick and
urgent request, because they feel that Africa has wasted incommensurable time in relation to
the stakes of globalisation. Time which, they reckon, Africa must catch up quickly today by
moving immediately towards the creation of the United States of Africa.
Such a quite brisk debate, yet under arbitrage by Africans who are not at all convinced that
the solution to Africas slow economy may come from the creation of an African Union
government or the United States of Africa. They believe that there are necessary prerequisites
to this institutional and political reform. For some people, we should first fight against the
mental underdevelopment that characterises the African (sic) and turn them into a much
more hardworking, rigorous people, honest to themselves, in their peoples service when they
are in a position of authority, abiding by the ethics of management, morals and their values
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and traditions with a concern for their social welfare, peace and justice .Some pessimist
Africans highlight the fact that the African Union is an elitist institution, very thrifty and not
very caring regarding the sufferings of the people. In their opinion, an African government
will be just another costly institution working only for the interest of a certain group of
people .
For those people, it is utopia to think that, under such circumstances, Africa can achieve unity
around the main issues. Such a unity will emerge in case of an economic recovery and if
governments manage to provide the populations with the basics of life, meeting their needs,
creating greater mobility and setting up real democracy. When governments shows real
concern in the peoples interest, then will come the time for the African Union Government
to become definitely the government of African peoples.

Defeating pessimism
And yet, there is hope for a will to overcome all institutional setbacks already suffered and to
defeat the pessimism among Africans themselves as to their destiny.
Indeed, a survey published in July 2006 on the CNN, under the heading Eye on Africa
revealed a new perspective on the way internet users see the issues regarding Africa and the
Africans. To the question In your opinion, which is the most important factor to solve the
African problems , five possible answers were proposed for people to choose what they
considered the right answers. The proposed answers were: a better leadership, Official
Development Assistance, international trade, corruption and the combat against HIV/AIDS.
The results were edifying! For the new generation making up most of the Internet users
participating to the survey, more than two thirds (66%) thought that in order to solve Africas
problem, there should be first a better leadership, against 23% for the fight against corruption
and 3% for the control of AIDS, Only 1% thought that Official Development Assistance was
the most important factor.
The survey revealed an increasingly shared opinion in Africa, especially among the new
generation, and that is the necessity to promote a better leadership along the whole decision-
making process, because, Africa is first and foremost confronted with leadership problems.
The good news is that this defect is not crippling and it is possible to overcome it.

Gazelles and elephants

In political terms, the intellectual tournaments from various schools of thoughts were
maliciously summarised by the Senegalese Minister of Foreign, Mr. Cheikh Tidiane Gadio
who used the image of a fight between gazelles and elephants. The frail animals being
the partisans for a rapid establishment of an African Government whereas the mastodons are
in favour of a gradual steps approach. Sticking to his pedagogical conception to win around
those countries unwilling to join the gazelles, the Senegalese minister was more pragmatic
as to the will shown by some States to set up a continent-wide government during the Accra
summit even if unanimity is not reached. Indeed, he argued that 44 years after Nkrumah

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has launched the idea, no one can blame them for being diligent and it would even be unfair
for those in favour of the United States of Africa to give in to countries against
In more concrete terms, the idea of an African government upheld forward by Senegal and
two other countries, includes 12 straightforward portfolios: External Relations, Health,
Environment, Education and Research, Trade, Currencies & Finance, Agriculture, Youth and
Sports, Infrastructure, Energy, Employment & Solidarity. In order not to offend the
restrictive nationalism of some countries, Ministers and ministries of this African government
will be Secretaries and secretariats. As to major sovereign portfolios, such as Defence and
Diplomacy, for the time being, they will be left alone, as it is the case with the European
Union.

What do LEAD Africa Fellows think? (LEAD Anglophone West Africa, LEAD
Francophone Africa and LEAD Southern & Eastern Africa)
In the light of the four questions asked to them regarding the relevance of an African
government, its added value compared to African intergovernmental organization, the areas
of competence and challenges attached to such a government, their opinions are as follows:

II. Why an African Government?

As to the relevance of an African government in a context of rapid globalization, there is
almost complete unanimity except for a few dissenting voices. Almost all Fellows think it
reasonable and relevant to create that government, given the challenge linked to
globalization. They argue that, at a time when all the other countries have come together as
economic or political blocs, ( EU, MERCOSUR, OECD), in North and South America, in
Asia and Europe, the African continent is lagging far behind in defending its own interest
alongside the other continents. In dealing with such powerful and dynamic entities, and in
response to the formidable challenges regarding international trade, as a disunited entity,
Africa stands all by itself. And yet, despite its assets and wealth potentials related to mining,
energy, forestry and agriculture, Africa is the continent faced with the biggest number of
obstacles to development because of conflicts, diseases (epidemic and endemic), and
environmental degradation. If Africa intends to be more assertive on the world scene, the
African government will be welcome in combining the efforts of all African countries.
An African government can help prevent the continent being split up, so that Africa will be
addressing the world with one single voice. Nowadays, the key word if Unity, since the
continents survival depends on it. LEAD Fellows see globalization as blessing for African
countries that succeeded in their up-date, but as a curse for those who ignore it. They are
convinced that in not a very long term, African States taken individually, will lose for ever
their remaining powers and strengths, which are already largely eroded by powerful
multinational companies, now in command and who, eventually will suck the life out of such
weakened countries and their populations. Consequently, Fellows think that now is the time
for all African States to unite in order to better defend their interests, to survive and secure an
honourable place in a world being increasingly global. United African countries will get
stronger, survive and win.
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 A lukewarm enthusiasm
However, the Fellows are lukewarm, given the obvious failure and the amount of paperwork
related to previous attempts at continental unity. Without questioning African ability to create
an African government, based on the mixed results of the current African unity and
NEPADs failure recently denounced by one of its most ardent exponents, Senegals
President, Fellows wonder whether an African government will be more efficient and
effective. Will Africa manage to go beyond their rabid nationalism, their national pride, their
on-going conflicts of leaderships, their rivalries and disunity? This rankling question echoes
the concerns and doubts of some Fellows. Others more pragmatic argue that if the idea of an
African Government is in itself relevant, one should go about in easy stages, setting up
original federations first, like the United States of Eastern, Southern and Western Africa,
before coming together as the United States of Africa as a whole.

III. How to set up an African Government?

Regarding the issue of the added value of an African Government compared to existing
intergovernmental organizations, Fellows suggest that it all depends on the contribution for
the creation of a strong component capable to negotiate its problem and development
programmes on equal basis and mutual respects. Integration and the reinforcement of
governance can help the continent sort itself out and be restructured in response to the major
issues attached to a global world where it has been excluded from. In the Fellows opinions,
synergy and growth are equally added value in the current institutional situation. An African
Government would be welcome if it helps improve the populations living conditions and
meet their basic needs. Comparatively, the added value will be greater responsibility of
elected representatives who intervene in areas calling for proven skills and more particularly
for accountability.
Unlike other inter African organisations, such a government should be given specific powers
and means to operate properly, even if some Fellows argue that the government should have
nothing to do with politics, and should lay ground on competence. Its feasibility and
operational process are a source of concern and for some Fellows, since many African
organizations die out due to Member States failing to contribute. Some Fellows suggest that
the Chairperson or Prime Minister should be elected at grassroots level, at sub-regional level,
and that such a grassroots community should be involved in all the choices made by the
government. Others suggest that primary elections should be held at State level to appoint
those to stand at continental level. The African Government should have enough room for
manoeuvre in order to implement the strategic choices of African states, without any
discrimination based on economic disparities.
As an added value, the African government will feature a 100% African management made
up of people from Africa, chosen from the good knowledge of Africa. It will be fully
committed to developing its strength for the general interest and will make it a point of
addressing its weaknesses. It will be assisted by all states in representing Africa intervening
where need be. It will be a democratically built, well-structured entity, with appropriate
capacities and powers. In short, an unassailable fortress.
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IV. Areas of competence for the African Government.
The areas of competence emphasized by the Fellows are the same everywhere. Furthermore,
they overlap with the twelve portfolios of the African governments project defended by
Senegal. Taken at random, it seems that the Fellows concern relates to good governance and
capacities, peace and security, poverty, environment, a new partnership based on respect and
solidarity, science and technology, trade, energy, education, health, infrastructure,
conservation and maximum use of national resources, stopping the brain drain, the banking
and financial sector, fair distribution of resources, building a south-south partnership,
creating a platform for exchange, defence, economy and industry, freedom of movement.
Linguistic integration, the development of trade and international African exchanges,
transport, technology, diplomacy and integration, international cooperation, the supply of
satellite, equipment and infrastructure, environment protection, conflicts resolution, efficient
management of national resources, a weighty voice for Africa around the world
The issue of challenges facing the African government is all summed up in this optimistic
note: securing a stronger voice for Africa around the world. For one pessimistic African who
takes the creation of the EU as an example, the AU goes against any logic in trying to start
with political rather than economic integration. In his opinion, we should stop dreaming:
how can states who cant even come together at regional level set up a continent wide
government? This is utopia, it will come to nothing, he argued.
That fellow is undoubtedly right and wrong at the same time, since all ideas emerge as a
utopia at first. True that all ideas do not translate into anything concrete. But, there was a
dream at first.

V. Traps to avoid:
The challenges facing the next African government do not lie in the timely nature of its
creation. We all agree with that. The main thing is the pace at which continental integration
will take place. The powerlessness of the African States, their exclusion from world trade,
and their low human development indexes, indeed militate for the creation of an African-
wide government
On the strength of the lessons learned regarding past failures, civil society assembled around
Lead Africa to put forward previous terms and conditions relating to the creation of the
African government. Fellows have insisted on the fact that African should be at the very
centre of the debate on the formation of the African Union Government which should be a
crucible for the people rather than for the governments. This is why they participate in the
Accra summit debate. They rightfully demand that a roadmap be produced as agreed by all
parties. This road map will specify the objectives and expected outcomes. Besides, they
suggest that such a road map should be accompanied by the creation of an on-going follow-
up and evaluation mechanism in order to avoid traps attached to bureaucracy and to promote
a better coordination of the governments tasks,

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VI. Africa Upright
The creation of the African Union Government is a response from African Heads of State, a
dramatic reaction to the prejudices of the marginalisation of Africa regarding world trade.
Through some Lead Africa Fellows, African populations see well an African government
which would speak as one to defend the continents interests everywhere. They have a clear
idea of what should be the aims and the modis vivendi of such a new supra national
institution, in addition to the way its members are chosen. Admittedly, they have their own
doubts which, however, are rather constructive. They call for a participatory and elective
approach in setting up the African government. They would also like to see a national
transparent, pragmatic style of management of the institution, which would imply, as far as
these are concerned, the setting up of a body to monitor and assess the objectives set and
outcomes expected. They call for a truly popular dimension to the institute so that it may be a
link between African populations, rather than between the leaders only. For Fellows, there
are expectations, demand and pragmatism seldom seen in Africa so far, revealing a new
mindset. The people stand for a proactive approach, based on a good knowledge of the
continents needs. They do not expect solutions to come from elsewhere, they insist on
fending for themselves and make very relevant suggestions.

Participatory approach
In the minds of the Fellows from the three African regional blocs who gave their opinions, it
is not just a matter of criticizing the decision made by the African countries to take care of
themselves, predicting failure in the more or less long term. Instead, Fellows tacitly adopted a
constructive to confront the African problems. In this connection, the solution should not be
imposed from the top to the bottom, by policy makers on the people. It should be seen as a set
of proposals from the sectors of the nation and its working populations. The policy makers
debate is thus informed by constructive ideas which are capitalized by decision-makers. If
not, what would be the aim of leaving Africa to Africans without those mainly concerned: the
peoples and Civil Society? Without involving the new generation, in political decision
regarding their future, this would certainly result in a short lived spineless African
government with no grip on reality, and consequently illegitimate.
That is what happened to an otherwise promising NEPAD, which died out as hastily as it had
been thought up and created. African Civil Society has almost never been involved in the
decision-making process, which often leads to failure. If this is the case, it never happens by
itself. When involved in the debate, it is often frustrating that civil society should be reduced
to the role of a foil. The USAs unwillingness to fund the Diamniadios platform as part of
the MCA as happened in other African countries, stems from the same fact that neither the
populations concerned, nor the civil society had participated in the design of such a big
project which was to completely change the lives of the neighbouring populations.
Fortunately, since then, things have been put right, while waiting for the American funds.
According to the late news the project is again in hand of the United State of America.

7/9
 If the cap fits
Civil society involvement should be taken more seriously making it less dependent on the
mood of policy makers. Having it involved, regarding the decision-making process should
result from the creation of a mechanism which is systematic, permanent and independent
from policy-makers. This has been so well understood by United Nations Institutions so that
none of their actions and policies is elaborated without the contribution of the civil society. It
would be wise for the African government to draw on such experience that were used to good
effect elsewhere. Otherwise it would very probably be inefficient and useless.
The African government should not be seen as a decision by African heads of States alone.
Nor should it be seen as the vision of the Senegal-Libya diplomatic tandem, which is striving
to deliver. It should be everybodys business, every countrys concern, even those countries
who for the time being are for a progressive approach. There should be a substance shared by
all, strategic orientations and a well defined programme in order not to be a powerless
institution, as is the case now with the African Union Commission where appointments elude
the chairman. Commissioners do not come under him as a matter of hierarchy and their
mission eludes him totally at the expense of an efficient-community based work
The issue of the contents of the African government programme is important to see whether
the population will feel more concerned than in the past, and to avoid a new failure which
will be more traumatic. That road map is seen as a real community-based and continued log-
frame. Thanks to this institutional framework, Africa will, for the first time, speak with one
voice at world forums, where her fate is being decided. She will be more audible and more
articulate, based on her oneness and unity. Africas voice will reach the whole world, since
where there used to be a mosaic of nations, she will stand for 53 nations, representing 53
markets. She will represent almost one billion people.

Dignity and accountability

Developed nations will become more sensitive to a new relationship based on strength and
African countries images will be enhanced. It will be the image of a more dignified,
respectable, Africa, turning its back to poverty and hitherto insurmountable constraints. It
will be the image of an Africa no longer given to random choices or guesses, but who decides
and acts in full knowledge of her own interests alongside the other actors. Such a change
implies a new leadership to rule the United States of Africa.
This new Africa has been the stuff of Africans dream of a serious-minded, demanding,
thoughtful, hard-working managers and leaders, committed to the general interest of a
continent which no longer expects its income from Official Development Assistance, rather
than relying on its own resources and efforts. A new Africa who no longer begs and submits,
and on equal footing with her partners. Dr Kwam Nkrumahs dream resulted in new
encouraging prospects for a continent on the march.

8/9
What is Lead Africa?
LEAD Africas a consortium of the three LEAD Programme Members in Africa. (LEAD
Anglophone West Africa, LEAD Francophone Africa and LEAD Southern and Eastern
Africa.) It is one of the LEAD International chapters covering 53 countries in the African
continent. Its aim is to contribute to the emergence of a network of leaders committed to
promoting sustainable development and endowed with the skills and knowledge in terms of
the evaluation of the policies and prospective deflexions for the future of their continent and
of the region.
LEAD Africa is a network of about 350 Fellows throughout Africa. These Fellows are from
all sectors, (Civil Society, private, media, academia) With its ambition to contribute to the
emergence in the region of a new type of leadership, open and and sensible to the
imperatives of sustainable development, LEAD discards the eventuality of being
marginalised when debates interesting Africa are at stake. This approach is in line with it
objectives. And this is the not the first attempt, since a similar exercise was undertaken with
the Peer Review Mechanism.
Approach for the elaboration of this document
It consisted of two methods: consultation of the Network Members via Internet and telephone
interviews of two Fellows in each country. In both cases, a questionnaire was elaborated. It
is the answers to the questions that constitute the basis of this analysis.

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