Page 152 - Afrika Must Unite

TOWARDS AFRICAN UNITY 137
The Accra Conference resulted, as indeed I hoped it would, in
a great upsurge of interest in the cause of African freedom and
unity. But matters did not rest there. Some weeks after the con­
ference ended some of my colleagues and I set out on a tour of the
countries which took part in the conference. O ur purpose was to
convey to the heads of states and governments, many of whom
were unable to attend the conference personally, the good wishes
of the government and people of Ghana.
Everywhere we went we were enthusiastically received, and
were able to discuss ways and means of strengthening further the
ties of friendship between our respective countries. Plans to
improve cultural and economic relations were the subject of a
series of communiques. O ur common background and basic
common interests drew us together.
The year 1958 was memorable not only for the first conference
of independent African states, but also for the opening of the
All-African People’s Conference in Accra in December 1958.
Delegates from 62 African nationalist organizations attended
the conference.
The will to unity which the conference expressed was at least
equal to the determination to carry forward the process of in­
dependence throughout Africa. The enthusiasm generated
among the delegates returning to their own countries profoundly
influenced subsequent developments. The Belgian Congo,
Uganda, Tanganyika, Nyasaland, Kenya, the Rhodesias, South
Africa, all were affected by the coming together in Accra of
representatives of the various freedom movements of the
continent. The total liberation and the unity of the continent at
which we aimed were evolving and gaining reality in the
experience of our international gatherings.
In November 1959, representatives of trade unions all over
Africa met in Accra to organize an All-African Trade Union
Federation. The African labour movement has always been
closely associated with the struggle for political freedom, as well
as with economic and social development.
A further step forward in the direction of all-African co­
operation took place a few months later when the conference to
discuss Positive Action and Security in Africa opened in Accra in
April i960. It was called by the government of Ghana, in