Page 178 - Afrika Must Unite

ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL INTEGRATION 163

Besides, an African Common M arket that does not concert its
policy in regard to its exports seriously reduces its effectiveness,
since the m utuality of interest might well be violated by in­
dividual actions in regard to the sale of crops common to several
of the members. One of the principal objectives of our African
Common M arket must be to eliminate the competition that
presently exists between us, and must continue to do so while
any one of us mistakenly shelters under the um brella of the
European Common M arket. The cash crops that we produce
must be pooled, so that our combined totals will give us a com­
manding position and, through a united selling policy, enable
us to extract better prices. For instance, G hana and Nigeria
between them produce about 50 per cent of the world’s cocoa.
So far we have been selling against each other, but in uniting our
policy, we can beat the undercutting tactics of the buyers who
set us one against the other.
The surpluses thus derived from increased revenues resulting
from a common selling policy could be placed to realistic
development (rejected by the European Development Fund),
and give a spurt to fundam ental industrialism. The trade now
beginning to be developed between us would be stimulated,
while a common currency would eliminate the difficulties of
exchange as well as the illegitimate dealings which at present
rob us of part of our wealth. A common currency, free of links
with outside currency zones, would enable us to reserve the
foreign exchange made from our export trade for essential
imports.
In the same way, the pooled sum of our present individual
investments in our similar national projects, if used within an
integrated plan, would give greater benefit in m utual develop­
ment. Indeed, the total integration of the African economy on a
continental scale is the only way in which the African states can
achieve anything like the levels of the industrialized countries.
The idea of African union is not just a sentimental one, em anat­
ing from a common experience of colonialism and a desire for
young, untried states to come together in the effervescence of
their new freedom, though sentiment undoubtedly has its part.
The unity of the countries of Africa is an indispensable pre­
condition for the speediest and fullest development, not only of