Africa Urged to Drop National Sovereignty Idea for Integration

{{Africa has been urged to drop the idea of national sovereignty for regional integration and pursue actions to benefit mutual interests of neighbouring countries thus unlocking the continent’s potential.}}

The remarks were made by the South African minister for the presidency Trevor Manuel in Uganda where he was guest speaker at the 21st Joseph Mubiru Memorial Lecture at the Serena Kampala Hotel under the theme “Unlocking Africa’s Growth Potential; Aligning decision-making to implementation and delivery.”

He said pan African organisations should be boosted and governments must implement strategic policies and be accountable to the public.

“Each African country should exploit its area of competitive advantage. This will increase intra-African trade. Sovereign perfection is not the key, we need regional economic communities,” he said.

He noted that Africa should build accountable institutions, make strategic policies, diversify economically, increase industrialisation, join regional economic groups, improve the quality of education and tackle unemployment.

“We need to be the generators of our own knowledge, especially at university level. Infrastructure deficit is an area that can slow economic growth,” Manuel said.

{(Left)South African minister for the presidency Trevor Manuel}