Accra, May 28, GNA - Some Members of Parliament (MPs) on Thursday urged Africans to take control of the destiny of the continent and unite to push the continental development agenda forward.

They said sub-regional bodies such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) should speed up the process of ensuring the free movement of goods and people to facilitate trade within the region. The MPs were contributing to a statement to mark African Union Day, commemorated every May 25, and ECOWAS Day, which falls today. Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Minister of Communications, said in his contribution that Africans were not promoting trade within the continent and were rather focusing on donor support for development.

He appealed to the leaders to speed the vision to unite the continent at the next African Union (AU) meeting to be held in Lybia. Mr William Ofori Boafo, NPP MP for Akropong, said the AU should step up the process of setting up technical committees on trade, energy and immigration among others, to assist in transforming Africa into a united state.

Ms Shirley Botchway, NPP member for Weija, said: "Africa has great potential, but until we come to the realisation that our prosperity lies in our own hands we will go nowhere." "Madam Speaker, the present global crisis presents us with a golden opportunity as a continent. Rather than moaning about how it affects us negatively and how foreign receipts are dwindling, we must look at ways in which we can take advantage of it. This is a continent that is self sufficient and rich in natural and human resources," she added. 28 May 09