Written by: Badr Ahmed

revived GhanaThe sixty-third anniversary of African Union Day, along with the rest of the African countries, was marked by an official flag-raising ceremony at the state headquarters in the capital, Accra, amid calls to strengthen African unity, accelerate steps toward continental integration, and consolidate confidence in the future of the continent.

During the celebration, Ghana's Deputy Foreign Minister, James Gyaki Quayson, stressed that the occasion not only represents a celebration of the shared heritage of African peoples, but also an opportunity to recall the magnitude of the challenges that the continent still faces in its quest to achieve unity, dignity, prosperity and self-determination.

Ghana celebrates African Union Day with calls to strengthen unity and integration.

The Ghanaian official pointed out that the establishment of the Organization of African Unity 63 years ago in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, was the result of a collective vision of African leaders to build a continent free from colonialism and united around common goals.

Quaison recalled the historic role of Ghana’s first president, whom he described as one of the foremost architects of the idea of African unity, referring to his famous saying that Ghana’s independence would not be complete until the entire African continent was liberated.

The Deputy Foreign Minister stressed that the principles upon which the African Union was founded, foremost among them unity, solidarity, peaceful coexistence, respect for sovereignty, democratic governance, human dignity and sustainable development, still represent fundamental pillars for achieving progress in Africa.

He explained that the continent still faces complex challenges including economic inequality, high youth unemployment rates, vulnerability to climate change, marginalization in the global system, as well as armed conflicts and imbalances in international trade, stressing that confronting these challenges requires collective cooperation among African countries instead of working individually.

Quaison affirmed Ghana’s commitment, under the President’s leadership, to supporting the African integration agenda, noting his country’s efforts to promote freedom of movement, expand economic cooperation, and adopt people-centered diplomacy within the framework of the African Union and the African Continental Free Trade Area.

The Ghanaian official called on African peoples to hold on to optimism and confidence in the continent’s capabilities, stressing that Africa possesses great strengths represented by a large youth demographic, huge natural resources, a rich cultural heritage, as well as human energies capable of driving development and innovation.

African Union Day is celebrated annually on May 25, commemorating the founding of the Organization of African Unity in 1963, which later became the African Union with the aim of promoting cooperation and integration among the countries of the continent.