The African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation, ITUC-Africa, has commended Togo for spearheading a United Nations resolution aimed at correcting the geographical misrepresentation of Africa.
The General Secretary of ITUC-Africa, Joel Odigie, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists on Sunday, saying the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution promoting the Equal Earth map projection to give a more accurate representation of Africa’s size and importance.
Odigie said the resolution, spearheaded by Togo and backed by the African Union, received overwhelming support, with 164 UN member states voting for its adoption.
He said Togo’s leadership had demonstrated that African countries could influence global institutions when they acted with unity, confidence and determination.
“ITUC-Africa commends the Government and people of Togo for the Pan-African spirit, determination and leadership demonstrated in advancing this historic and important initiative,” he said.
Odigie said the widespread use of the Mercator projection had, for centuries, visually diminished Africa while disproportionately enlarging parts of Europe and North America.
He argued that the distortion went beyond cartography, as maps could shape education, public imagination, policymaking and perceptions of political and economic power.
“Correcting this longstanding distortion is therefore an important act of historical and representational justice for Africa and its peoples,” he said.
According to him, Africa’s true geographical size reflected its vast potential, including its growing population, strategic resources, productive capacity and expanding workforce.
He said the development should serve as a wake-up call for Africans to recognise their collective strength and channel it towards shared development and prosperity.
The ITUC-Africa scribe also called for the African Continental Free Trade Area to move beyond agreements and declarations and begin delivering tangible benefits to workers and ordinary Africans.
“Africa needs greater regional integration, increased intra-African trade, improved infrastructure and freer, safer mobility for workers and people,” he said.
Odigie urged African governments to dismantle administrative, transport and financial barriers that continued to fragment economies and limit cooperation among African countries.
He said correcting Africa’s geographical map should also force the continent to confront questions surrounding ownership and control of its land, minerals, energy, technology, finance and productive assets.
According to him, inequality remained widespread despite Africa’s enormous wealth, with millions of workers facing unemployment, informality, inadequate wages and limited social protection.
“The energy and unity demonstrated through the ‘Correct the Map’ campaign must now embolden a broader Pan-African agenda for structural transformation,” he said.
Odigie urged African leaders to diversify their economies away from raw material exports, develop regional value chains and strengthen productive capacities under accountable and democratic governance.
He said Africa’s true size should ultimately be reflected not only on global maps but also in its influence and the living standards of its people.
“Ordinary people must experience the dividends of African integration and transformation through decent work, living wages, universal social protection and quality public services,” he said.
Odigie congratulated Togo, the African Union and other stakeholders who championed the resolution, describing the development as a significant Pan-African victory.
“Africa has been restored to its proper scale on the map. The greater task is ensuring its workers and peoples occupy their rightful place,” he said.