‘Lack of commitment, bane of African Standby Force’

Prof. Henrietta J.A.N Mensa-Bonsu (2nd left), Director, LECIAD, being congratulated by Prof Ernest Aryeetey, Vice-Chancellor of UG after the lecture. Picture: KWABENA ASAMOAH ADDAI

By Edmund Smith-Asante 
The Director of the Legon Centre for International Affairs Department (LECIAD), Professor Henrietta J. A. N. Mensa-Bonsu, says the formation of the African Standby Force (ASF) agreed by member countries of the African Union (AU) has delayed because of lack of commitment on the part of African countries.


She said Ghana was guilty in that regard, adding that although the African Union (AU) had set the minimum and maximum number of troops to be contributed by member countries to the ASF, it had no ability to influence its compliance.


“Member states drag their feet or exhibit unwillingness to provide troops which they promise,” she stated.

Professor Mensah-Bonsu was delivering a lecture last Wednesday on the topic: “The African Union’s Peace and Security Architecture: A Guarantor of Peace and Security on the Continent?” at the 2014 University of Ghana Alumni Lecture. The lecture was on the theme; “Peace and security on our African continent.”

Funding
The LECIA Director, who is an alumnus of the University of Ghana, said one of the banes of keeping the peace on the African continent was the lack of funds, which an African Peace Fund was meant to deal with.

She said the overdependence of Africa on other people’s money (DOPM), which she referred to as ‘Africanitis’, hampered the contribution of states to the fund.

“Dependence on others to solve our problems has only served to undermine our unity and autonomy, such that it is only Africans that get lectured on good governance,” Professor Mensah-Bonsu said.

The lack of operational capability prevented Africa from taking hold of the many crises that it had been inundated with, she added.

She said to the uninitiated, the AU, which was primarily formed because the OAU could not provide protection for African citizens, was doing nothing, because it was swarmed by the many conflicts on the African continent.

APSA
Professor Mensah-Bonsu, however, expressed optimism that the new African Peace and Security Structure (APSA), that comprises the Panel of the Wise, Continental Early Warning System, Peace Fund and ASF, was capable of guaranteeing peace and security on the continent.

“This can, however, only be attained if the AU improves its communication, devises better ways of providing adequate and sustainable funding for its peace initiatives and moves the ASF from paper to a state of readiness by next year, among other interventions.”

“The architecture can translate the slogan ‘African solutions for African problems’ into reality and that gives need to a change in principle from non-interference to non-indifference. However, if it is to make a difference in the lives of ordinary Africans, then attention has to be paid to many aspects of it,” she noted.

The President of the University of Ghana Alumni Association (UGAA), Paa Kwesi Yankey, said growth could only be promoted in the midst of peace in Ghana and Africa.

He, therefore, enjoined all to pursue peace at all times.

Writer’s email: Edmund.Asante@graphic.com.gh

This story was first published by the Daily Graphic on October 24, 2012