Abuja treaty is the answer

According to Japanese mythology the beginning of the world started with the creation of Japan's main islands. This is specifically attributed to the successful coupling of two divine beings, Izanag (male) and Izanami (female) in the bridal chamber of the Hall of Eight Fathoms.
As creation legends go, the Japanese version is no more fantastical than most. Certainly though, this Shinto explanation for the mystery of creation, is not nearly as ephemeral as the myth that purports the G8 are concerned about the plight of Africa.
This grouping of the most industrialized nations was born 30 years ago as the G5, an initiative inspired by French President Giscard D'Estaing with Canada and Japan later joining to make a G7. Then, the grouping, in a typical bow to geopolitical power play, began to call itself G7+1, in a sop aiming to flatter a humbled Russia.
In whatever form it has cloaked itself however, the G8, has invariably disappointed Africa time and again. The latest conclave especially has turned out, as far as a worried Africa is concerned, as the most unproductive G8 summit ever. The outcome of the Tokayo summit, in addition to its inconclusive stance on all the major issues has been particularly neglectful of Africa and this perhaps, should, if it hasn't already, fundamentally altered the way Africa regards its place in the world.
The continent has been strung along for too long and if pledges were bread and butter, Africa would by this time in world history have become a land of plenty. However the G8 for the last three years and counting has always had a ready excuse of some sort for not walking the talk in terms of meeting the 2005 Gleneagles summit target of 62bln dollars a year in direct aid to Africa by 2010.
This year the 'logic' among too many of the so-called experts on African aid strategy (the guys the G8 really listen to instead of the now tired pleas of the token African leadership invited to the G8) is that doubling aid to Africa by 2010 according to Gleneagles, is unwise because of African corruption. 'Why throw away good money after bad' seems to be the mantra dwelling in the minds of the august eight. Last year, the excuse was that Africa lacks the absorption capacity to handle the pledged funds.
The fact that the Tokayo Communiqué refuses to bolster the Gleneagles commitment to Africa is all the more ironic since the host nation, at the Fourth International Conference on African Development held in Tokyo, had declared 2008 'Year for Africa'. Japan it is now apparent to all concerned, has not followed up on its promises to lobby the G8 to increase assistance, after rationalizing that the doubling of Japanese bilateral overseas development assistance will help to spur them to deliver.
Africa must wake up for itself. The G8 does not lose much sleep over us… at least, this current crop of eight doesn't. And as we lament the loss of Tony Blair's influence of the true Afro-phile, the realization dawns that Africa must wean itself off aid dependency at any cost.
This will be more than difficult as the austerity such a courageous stance will demand will exact a severe toll. However, Africa does not have to start from scratch. Far from it. The Abuja Treaty establishing the African Economic Community (AEC) had come into force as early as May 1994. This framework was developed further at Sirte, Libya (September 1999) as well as at the Lome Summit of July 2000.
The AEC should be given added impetus as its success would ensure that Africa can take the bold steps required to wean itself off foreign aid dependency (much of it unforthcoming anyway) and stand on its own feet. Greater economic integration in Africa is the answer not cap in hand appearances at G8 Summits.