His Excellency President John Evans Atta Mills has reiterated that Africa unity cannot be a mere dream.

He said, “Africa unity is an objective worthy and capable of being achieved”.

The statement was made during the Keynote Address at 16th Ordinary Session of African Union at Addis Ababa in Ethiopia.

President Mills emphasized that; "we need to provide a viable economic space regionally and continentally to create a single compact African Political and Economic Unit". 

 He added that, “President Nkrumah was convinced that the unity of Africa and the strength it would gather from continental integration is a sine qua non for Africa’s economic and industrial development”. 

"The struggle has been hard and weary but we have succeeded in breaking barriers and broadening our frontiers", President Mills stated.

His Excellency advised that, our quest for economic development is now greater than ever and it speaks for itself that the best way forward, is through a united and integrated agenda.  

"What exactly do we mean by 'shared values?', President Mills quizzed.

He noted that, our concept of shared values cannot be static, but our culture, dynamic as it is, continues to evolve and unfold. 

“We know that the ingredients of these shared values include, transparent governance, free elections, human rights issues, cultural development, gender sensitivity and equality and most importantly, economic emancipation”, President Mills opined.

The address received enormous approval from the African Head of States, marked by loud applause and constant nodding of their heads.

After the delivery, the heads of states and their representatives couldn’t wait to have copies of the address. 

President Mills called on the union, to resolve to make this year an 'ACTION YEAR', to give more meaning to the integration agenda.