By Jibril Abdul Mumuni
Accra, May 25 GNA – Professor Lord Mawuko‑Yevugah, an International Relations expert, has called for a shift in how African Union (AU) Day is observed, urging leaders to prioritise concrete action over ceremonial observance.
He said that the AU Day should serve as a platform for accountability, reflection, and decisive policy implementation rather than routine commemoration.
He said this at the 6th Fireside Dialogue of the Africa Future Leaders Institute of Global Affairs (AFLIGA) in Accra,
The Dialogue, organised in commemoration of AU Day, was held under the theme: “Africa’s Role and Agency in Global Affairs: Past, Present and Future – Prospects and Challenges.”
The AFLIGA Dialogue brought together policymakers, diplomats, academics, and civil society actors to deliberate on Africa’s role in the evolving global order.
“African Union Day should be more than commemoration; it must be a moment of honest reckoning and action,” he stated.
Prof Mawuko‑Yevugah emphasised that Africa’s ability to influence global affairs depended not on declarations but on deliberate and consistent action by its leaders and institutions.
“Having agency is not a possession, it is a practice. It is exercised or it is forfeited,” he said.
He noted that the continent must translate its aspirations into measurable outcomes.
He pointed out that although frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) had the potential to transform the continent, implementation remained a major challenge.
“The agreement is in place, but the necessary steps to dismantle trade barriers and make it work effectively are still lacking,” Prof. Mawuko‑Yevugah said.
He, however, called for stronger political will among member states.
The Professor also emphasised the need for financial independence within the African Union, urging member states to strengthen internal financing mechanisms to reduce reliance on external donors.
He explained that continued dependence on foreign funding limited Africa’s ability to pursue independent and strategic development priorities.
On governance, Prof Mawuko‑Yevugah noted that the success of the AU project would depend largely on the quality of leadership and institutional strength across the continent.
“Africa’s future will not be delivered by external actors but by Africans making better choices about governance, resource allocation, and inclusion,” he stated.
He highlighted Africa’s growing debt burden as a major constraint to development, noting that significant resources were being diverted from essential sectors such as education and health to debt servicing.
Prof Mawuko‑Yevugah called for improved debt management strategies and stronger domestic revenue mobilisation to support sustainable development.
He urged leaders to move beyond rhetoric and ensure that young people were given real opportunities to participate in shaping the continent’s future.
The African Union celebrates its 63rd anniversary on May 25, 2026, under the official theme “Sixty-Three (63) Years of Unity, Integration and Development.”
The primary message emphasises pan-African solidarity, economic acceleration through the AfCFTA, and the pursuit of a unified, prosperous continent.
African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, in his commemorative message highlighted the importance of empowering the continent’s youth, expanding trade integration, and driving localised innovation.
The AU has designated 2026 as the year for “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063.”
It emphasises vital resource management for the continent’s climate resilience.
GNA
Edited by Beatrice Asamani Savage