Cape Coast, May 26, GNA - Nana Kobena Nketsiah V, Omanhene of Essikado Traditional Area, on Monday urged Africans to get rid of the foreign consciousness that had imprisoned them and come together to build a unified continent free of adulteration. Nana Nketsiah gave the advice at the regional celebration of the African Union (AU) Day at the Centre for National Culture at Cape Coast. He said it was unfortunate that Africans had forgotten about their culture due to the infiltration of foreign ideas and culture left behind by the colonialists.

Nana Nketsiah, also a history professor, stressed the need for Africans to be free from such "bondage" to enable them build the continent. He expressed regret that the whole of Africa's educational system was full of foreign ideas which succeeding governments had done nothing to change.

Nana Nketsiah said independent meant being free from foreign ideas and culture and that it was time to get rid of foreign elements in the educational system, the judiciary and other key areas of the economy. He said Africa had its peculiar problems and urged professionals to desist from travelling abroad and use their expertise to help solve those problems.

Mr David Oscar Yawson, leader of the Coalition for African Union, a Non Governmental Organisation, said a United Africa could harness the bulk of the world's diamond supply and the over 90 percent of the world's cobalt for the aviation industry.

He said a united Africa could also generate 40 percent of the world's potential hydro-electric power supply, 50 percent of its phosphate and 50 percent of palm oil supply as well as 40 percent of the world's platinum among other things.

He called on all African countries to join forces to harness and also properly manage such resources for its development. Rabbi Halevi Kohain, Executive Director of the Pan African Historical Theatre Festival (PANAFEST), urged Africans not to "accept limitations as normal" but to move out and break barriers that hindered their growth.

He said Africans should place value on themselves and see each other as brothers and sisters adding that the incident in South Africa was "unacceptable."

He said: "we don't have to maltreat each other if the continent is to forge ahead in unity and progress".

Seestah Imahkus Okofo, a Pan-Africanist said the African continent had suffered the consequences of its human and material resources that were used to develop the other continents. She said Europe was united and so was America and therefore Africans must also unite to ensure their development. 26 May 08