Africa’s Dream of Political and Economic Independence -By Shmuel Ja’Mba Abm

The full thrust of independence is non-negotiable, as summed up in political activities and exploits etched permanently in books the founder of Ghana, Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah, unmistakably pointed out with relative ease.

Under no circumstances should the independence and sovereignty of a country and its people be compromised in definitions by another society, a conglomerate, or a syndicate as declassified CIA files implicate the US government of direct involvement in the overthrow of the First Republic and the removal of its visionary leader, Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah.

Prior to that, the US government, according to accounts from reliable sources, used local agents and political activists in assassination and destabilisation attempts for a protracted period before the ultimate goal of February 24, 1966 putsch. The Kulungungu bombing was one of such assassination attempts that affected the health of the great leader who eventually succumbed to injuries sustained in the plot.

Rusty America and its Anglo-Saxon Five Eye Intelligence alliance hegemony ambitions must be stopped, and now. The reign of America, which believes in might is right, has come to an end in a new world order America has scored badly in terms of abuse of rights of sovereignty, independence and a right to self determination.

From experience, France and Germany know this about its prime ally in Europe, America. For example, both France and Germany know that Britain didn’t just leave the EU Monetary Union, but on a brilliant day, Brits voted for Brexit and really did exit from the EU.

So the question is: why would Britain exit from the EU and the EMU? Considering geography and history, does this mean Britain is no longer in Europe at a time Morocco in Africa, and Turkey in the Middle East, are applying all levers to join the European Union? With Britain being the host of key EU financial institutions and a formidable market in Europe, is Britain now saying the EU and EMU are hostile predators to its existence? On what grounds?

As if NATO was the ish of it all, France was denied intelligence on China shared by Australia with Canada, New Zealand, the United States of America, and the United Kingdom. So why was France, a NATO ally, denied this shared information with Five Eye Intelligence countries? It tells volumes of differences playing out today as it has become obvious leaders like Emmanuel Macron of France and Olaf Scholz, Chancellor of Germany, are left in the cold after President Donald Trump threw out visiting Ukrainian leader, Volodymer Zelensky.

Does this mean France and Germany, two leading European countries and allies of NATO, and also the main backers of the European Union, are a threat to America (the USA), Australia Britain (the UK), Canada, and New Zealand? So, who in Europe would foot the total bill of an estimated US $3t after Russia emerged victor with its Oreshnik hypersonic missiles deterrence? Would Britain be included in the list of countries to rebuild Ukraine after the war?

The Siberian bear has been woken up by a series of noisy suicidal steps the US-led NATO took against Russia, after the February 24, 2022, demilitarisation and denazification special operations in Ukraine.

With the swift announcement and subsequent removal of Russia as a member of Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications (S.W.I.F.T), the international exchange payment system, Russia took painstaking decisions to establish its own parallel structure to facilitate its foreign ExIm trade, making the ruble the currency of such transactions.

Through BRICS and other allies, since Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates applied and have since been made members of the fast growing non-formalised organisation, Russia’s sphere of political influence has expanded and taken shape to bolster and strengthen BRICS in the emerging multipolar world.

About 26 countries, accounting for two-thirds of the world population, have since applied to join BRICS. This growing enthusiasm and other factors, such as the fall in the GDP of G7 countries and the decision taken by Saudi Arabia not to renew its petrodollar agreement with America, has indicated a massive tectonic shift and realignment of 500 years western countries economic dominance of the rest of the world.

Ghana can not afford to lag behind these developments, including ceding its historically significant place to the emerging Alliance des États du Sahel, namely Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, the new revolutionary powerhouse of resistance against foreign domination of member countries’ economic and political space.

The presence and participation of AES high level delegation, including the visit of the Burkinabe Head of State, Captain Ibrahim Traorè, during the investiture of the 10th President of the Fourth Republic of Ghana, HE John Dramani Mahama, on January 7, 2025, was a poignant reminder and a remarkable statement of fact registered in this unmatched historic milestone.

Further, the Mahama government appointment of a Special Envoy, Larry Gbevlo-Lartey, Esq, to the Alliance of Sahelian States, is a bold statement for celebrations by aficionados of African Free Trade Continental Area (AfCTA). Whereas the functions and responsibilities of such an appointment aren’t readily made public, the job description gives a hint of what is expected of the Office of the Special Envoy to the Alliance of Sahelian States. Besides, it is obvious from the direction that informed the emergence of these countries – namely Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger – that time was ripe for the sub region and the entire continent to embrace a revolutionary political turn of events as they have evolved since these countries set out to sever relationships with their former colonial powers.

The Economic Community of West Africa States, the regional block, took an initial knee-jerk decision to launch an attack on Niger, the last of the trio to oust its president in a coup d’etat. This decision by ECOWAS was in respect of its founding charter to restore a return to civilian government. The decision by ECOWAS sparked an instant strategy deployed by Burkina Faso and Mali to join hands in defence of Niger, in case of an imminent attack, ostensibly because together they stood accused of a similar crime and the next in line after a successful operation by ECOWAS in Niger.

Thus, in a sworn military and political alliance and cooperation in such matters, AES emerged. ECOWAS backed off, scampering with a bruised ego and a divided ECOWAS front that left a sour relationship with countries that either spearheaded or supported the ECOWAS initiative.

Ghana is the host country of Africa Free Trade Continental Area. The significance of AfCTA in modern politics and participation in global trade could not be underestimated. As a continent, this initiative of AfCTA is a huge bargaining chip in world trade as against aid. Africa has become of age to eat from the fruits of its labour, accounting for 60% global exports of mineral resources as individual countries. God bless our home land, Ghana.

* Shmuel Ja’Mba Abm has extensive scholarly publications that establish him as a leading academic expert in regional geopolitical dynamics and diplomatic relations in Africa. Author of e-monographs on geopolitics, ethnic conflicts, and political philosophy.