Page 157 - Afrika Must Unite

142 AFRICA MUST UNITE
that a special committee met in Accra from 13 to 18 January
i960 to formulate proposals for a Ghana-Guinea-M ali Union*
The three of us had a further series of meetings in Accra from
27 to 29 April 1961, and agreed upon a Charter.
O ur Union was named The Union of African States (U.A.S.)
and was to form the nucleus of the United States of Africa. It was
declared open to every state or federation of African states which
accepted its aims and objectives. Articles 3 and 4 of the Charter
contained the aims and activities of the Union, and I quote them
below in full:

Article 3. The aims of the Union of African States (U.A.S.) are
as follows:
to strengthen and develop ties of friendship and fraternal co­
operation between the Member States politically, diplo­
matically, economically and culturally;
to pool their resources in order to consolidate their independence
and safeguard their territorial integrity; to work jointly to
achieve the complete liquidation of imperialism, colonialism
and neo-colonialism in Africa and the building up of African
Unity;
to harmonize the domestic and foreign policy of its Members, so
that their activities may prove more effective and contribute
more worthily to safeguarding the peace of the world.
Article 4. The Union’s activities shall be exercised mainly in the
following fields:
a. Domestic Policy. The working out of a common orientation of
the States.
b. Foreign Policy. The strict observance of a concerted diplomacy,
calculated to achieve closer co-operation.
c. Defence. The organization of a system of joint defence, which
will make it possible to mobilize all the means of defence at
the disposal of the State, in favour of any State of the Union
which may become a victim of aggression. '
d. Economy. Defining a common set of directives relating to
economic planning, aiming at the complete decolonization
of the set-ups inherited from the colonial system, and organiz­
ing the development of the wealth of their countries in the
interest of their peoples.
e. Culture. The rehabilitation and development of African cul­
ture, and frequent and diversified cultural exchange.