Page 210 - Afrika Must Unite

AFRICA IN WORLD AFFAIRS *95
demonstrate strength, in fact reflects weakness, since it is based in
the fragmentation of the continent into m any states, few of
which are really viable.
The two most powerful countries in the world are the
U.S.S.R. and the U.S.A., with populations of 215 millions and
185 millions respectively. Both have one representative each at
the United Nations, as entities; though the Byelo Soviet Socialist
Republic and the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, units of
the U.S.S.R., are each represented since Laos and Cambodia
were admitted. India, with her population of 460 millions, also
has only one representative. W hen the People’s Republic of
China is admitted, its mighty population of over 640 million
people will doubtless have a single representative. There is no
reason, therefore, why Africa, with its approximately 300 million
people, once united, should not send a single representative to
the United Nations. A single representation, resting on the
strength of a whole continent, would be more positive in its
influence than all the separate representations of the African
states put together.
Although confidence in the U nited Nations has suffered
several shocks since its foundation, and particularly of late in
connection with the Congo crisis, it remains the only world
organization in which the m any problems of the world have a
chance of finding reasonable solution. It must, therefore, be
supported by all interested in the preservation of peace and the
progress of hum an civilization.
We in Ghana showed our faith in the organization when we
responded at once with troops to support United Nztions inter­
vention in the Congo in i960. The reason why we did not with­
draw our troops when several other countries did, was because
we felt that by doing so we would weaken the authority
of the United Nations and leave the way open for the intensi­
fication of intervention from just those forces we are anxious to
oust.
Recently, in January 1962, Ghana was elected to serve for two
years as a non-perm anent member of the eleven-nation Security
Council. We welcomed the opportunity to take our share of
responsibility in the U nited Nations, though this does not deter
us from pressing for certain changes in the administrative