Page 93 - Afrika Must Unite

78 AFRICA MUST UNITE
Recently emergent states like G hana are having to tackle the
task of industrialization at the period of its highest development
in the old-established democracies, in conditions which have
precluded the amassing of large capital reserves in the hands of
private citizens. Upon the government, therefore, devolves the
task of planning and establishing the main base of economic
development and of pushing it through at a speedy rate against
the formidable odds of an uneducated population devoid of
technical and scientific knowledge, and the lack of even the most
primitive industrial foundations. Time is the essence of our
problem, and we are in duty bound to use the overwhelming
m andate given to us by our people to advance their standards
of life, to employ time for the purpose of securing the quickest
possible economic and social development for our country. This
duty resolves itself into the obligation to use the power bestowed
upon us by the majority decision of the people to the limit of the
task it imposes. To abdicate any part of that power to an
opposition that has been repeatedly rejected by the people and
engages itself in activities prejudicial to the independence, safety
and forward growth of the State, would, I submit, be a betrayal
of the popular will and trust. It would be completely incompre­
hensible to our people, and in the present state of their educa­
tional development would place our whole future in jeopardy.
We intend to preserve the rights and freedom of our people, so
long as these are exercised within the limits of the law, and with­
out threat to the security of the nation. We welcome criticism,
but we will not tolerate subversive and terroristic activities
against the State, and illegal acts designed to promote the selfish
greed of a dissident minority, supported by alien interests.