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Even after independence, these parties continued to operate like regional rather than national parties. Nationalist leaders had appealed mainly to their regions or ethnic groups for support. These parties, especially those formed during the period of the nationalist struggle for independence, were mostly ethnic or regionally based organisations. The political parties in most independent West African states have compounded the problem. Creating a viable nation-state (unity in diversity) from these different communities has been difficult for most West African leaders.
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Sometimes political leaders even consciously promote ethnic discord in order to fulfil their selfish desires. Thus, members of each group have tended to identify themselves more with their ethnic group rather than with their country and loyalty to the ethnic group is often more important than loyalty to the state. Unfortunately, West Africa’s leaders have not made greater efforts to unite the different communities in their countries. The Soso are in Sierra Leone and Guinea while the Kissi are now located in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia. The Senufo are found in Mali, Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso. Today, some of the Ewe live in Ghana, some in Togo and some in Benin. The colonial regimes had created national boundaries which brought peoples together who would otherwise be separated (for example, the Fante and Asante in Ghana) and separated peoples who would otherwise be together. These rulers inherited states that had been created by European colonialists which consisted of different ethnic groups, religions and interests. West African rulers have faced serious challenges in trying to unite their people.
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Problems of national unity and cohesion: Overview and Case Studies We shall discuss below the major problems that have affected West African countries since the attainment of independence. However, these impressive developments were soon overshadowed by many problems, some of which have still not been solved. The road network was expanded and hospitals and clinics were built. School enrolment, for example, increased substantially in the first decade of independence. They formulated good policies for the social and economic development of their people. They hoped to transform their newly independent countries so that their citizens would enjoy the fruits of independence, as colonial rule had brought only few benefits to the majority of the people. Most West African leaders were very optimistic about their countries’ future at independence.
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