The All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) joins all Africans on this special occasion to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the African Union.
As AACC, our relationship with the Organization of African Unity (OAU) which later gave birth to the African Union dates back to the struggle for Independence from colonialism by many African States. Today, the African Union has evolved from an organization coordinating the political liberation efforts of member states to one repositioning Africa to become a dominant player in the global arena. Its focus is to be people-centered, more responsive to the needs of the African People, prioritize inclusive social and economic development, continental and regional integration, democratic governance and peace and security.
In the words of one of its founding fathers, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, “Our independence is meaningless unless it is linked up with total liberation of the African continent”. This encompasses economic and social liberation. The continent today continues to fight for its total liberation from poor governance, greed, and corruption including illicit financial flows; armed conflicts, threats of terrorism, poverty, food insecurity, environmental degradation and the effects of climate change, lack of social infrastructure which includes lack of access to basic health services; modern slavery, irregular migration, and factors that undermine Pan –Africanism such as xenophobia and tribalism among others.
The path to realizing this dream is turbulent but the African must remain resolute.
We believe in an Africa that will provide a high standard of living, quality of life and well-being for all, an Africa with well-educated citizens and skills revolutions underpinned by science, technology, and innovation; an Africa with healthy, well-nourished citizens and transformed economies creating jobs for its people, an Africa deploying sustainable agriculture to increase productivity and environmentally sustainable communities.
On this occasion, we call on every African to re-dedicate themselves to the Pan-African vision birthed 60 years ago. We also call on every African citizen to be the driving force towards the attainment of an Integrated,
Prosperous, and Peaceful Africa; more so in line with the African Union theme of 2023 which is, “Accelerating the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area to bring greater prosperity to the continent”.
Africa is our Home; Africa is our future
