The Executive Director at the Centre for Regional Integration in Africa (CRIA), S.K.B Asante has reiterated the need for a regional unification in Africa to bolster economic development in African countries.

According to the professor, even though the continent has undergone a series of unmanageable problems, African countries particularly Ghana, has no option when it comes to regional integration.

“Regional integration has for nearly six decades of African independence been an enduring appeal for the continent as the right strategy for overcoming the economic disadvantages of small size of the African countries, low per capita, sparse populations, narrow resource bases…the reality is that ‘regional integration is not a choice for Africa, it is a must’...”

Mr. Asante was speaking at the sensitization forum held at the Foreign Affairs Ministry on Tuesday, June 25, 2019.

The two-day programme themed, ‘Enhancing national capacity for the regional and continental integration in Africa’ seeks to sensitize and build capacities to sustain a robust economic growth, alleviate poverty in African countries thereby fostering regional integration in Africa.

In his opinion, regional integration and region-building would enable African countries effectively respond to its problems as well as facilitate regional trade but Africa has not been able to make successful strides in achieving this.

“...half a century of Africa’s regional integration process, unlike that of Europe, Latin America and South East Asia, has not made any appreciable inroads towards the objective of creating a viable regional economic market, let alone an economic market.” He said.

He, therefore, called on African leaders to, as a matter of urgency, move towards strategically bridging Africa’s deficits with regards to trade and continental unification.

“A rapidly changing global economic environment demands that we move swiftly and strategically to achieve regional and continental integration. Our longstanding commitments to cooperation across borders propel us…It is time for action.” He emphasized.