Accra, Aug. 14, GNA- The World Pan-Africanism Council (WOPAC) and the All-African People's Organisation (AAPO) have called for a referendum on the grand debate for a union government for Africa. A Press statement issued by WOPAC and AAPO in Accra on Tuesday said the referendum would give mass participation to Africans to discuss continental unity.

The two organisations stressed: "We unequivocally call for the full involvement, participation and affirmation of the people of Africa on the Union Government question."

The three-page press statement signed by Mr. Benjamin Anyagre, Executive Committee Member of WOPAC on behalf of the two organisations and made available to the Ghana News Agency, expressed dissatisfaction about the inability of the African Union (AU) to clench continental unity, at the Ninth Summit of the Union in Accra.

"This historical assignment for political and socio-economic unity of Africa in the spirit of a free and fair referendum by universal adult suffrage, will involve actively all people, irrespective of status in society, race, colour, tribe or religion," the statement said. The document said it was wrong for only 53 Heads of State to decide on the future government for Africa for the over 830 million people on the Continent.

It said a referendum would end 50 years of debate on Union Government of Africa.

"We as Pan-African Mass Movement, in our wisdom and principle, state categorically, the position that there is no need to further delay the processes of an African Union government now." The statement said the AU meeting failed to satisfactorily debate the issue of strategically re-position the freedom and development of Africa in the contest of unity.

The two Pan African organisations called on the AU to feature the Continental African Union issue during the 10th AU Summit in Ethiopia, in January 2008.

The statement called on stakeholders to marshal all efforts as a historical responsibility to safeguard the future of Africa and free the people from poverty, hunger, diseases and possible social extermination. 14 Aug. 07