By Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo
Tema, July 10, GNA – The AfriKan Continental Union Consult (ACUC), an African governance thinktank, has called on Africans in the Diaspora returning to the continent, to contribute actively to Africa’s development, saying homecoming should be accompanied by a commitment to nation-building.
The call is contained in a declaration dubbed “The Afrizen Declaration: Reuniting Africa Through Integration”, issued by Mr Benjamin Anyagre Aziginaateeg, the Leader of ACUC, and copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA).
The declaration stated that returning Africans should see themselves as “builders, not mere beneficiaries,” adding that the continent’s future depended on the collective efforts of Africans both on the continent and in the Diaspora.
According to the statement, centuries of slavery, colonialism and racial oppression had fragmented African societies and identities, making deliberate efforts at integration essential to rebuilding the continent.
The statement urged Africans, African Americans, Afro-Caribbeans, Afro-Latin Americans and all people of African descent to embrace a shared identity based on common ancestry, history and responsibility.
The declaration cautioned against attitudes or practices that could create new forms of division among Africans, stating that the continent should not become a place where segregation or exclusion re-emerged in different forms.
It also called on returning Africans and indigenous communities to reject prejudice and mistrust, arguing that both groups have important roles to play in strengthening African unity.
Mr Aziginaateeg said Africa’s development required greater collaboration built on mutual respect, trust and a shared commitment to the continent’s future.
The statement cited Pan-Africanists such as George Padmore and W. E. B. Du Bois as examples of members of the African diaspora who returned to contribute to Africa’s development.
It also referenced Liberia’s history as an example of the importance of promoting inclusive integration and avoiding divisions that could undermine national cohesion.
The declaration urged African governments to formulate policies that promote integration and strengthen the participation of people of African descent in the continent’s socio-economic development.
It further encouraged communities across Africa to welcome returning Africans while fostering peaceful coexistence and social cohesion.
The statement described integration as a strategic necessity for the continent’s development and called for a future built on cooperation, trust and healing rather than division.
Mr Aziginaateeg said Africa’s progress would depend on building bridges among all people of African descent and promoting a shared vision of unity and sustainable development.
GNA
Edited by Benjamin Mensah
Reporter: Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo
Email: [email protected]