President John Mahama has urged Africans to rekindle the spirit of Pan-Africanism, warning that despite political independence, the continent remains vulnerable to new forms of domination.
Speaking at the 80th anniversary of the Fifth Pan-African Congress in Accra, President Mahama lamented that Africa’s vast resources have not translated into global influence.
“Africa is rich in resources but poor in global clout,” he stated, highlighting economic, technological, and ideological forms of domination. Mahama emphasized that political freedom was just the first step, and that economic and social liberation remain unfinished business.
The former President paid tribute to pioneers like Kwame Nkrumah, George Padmore, and W.E.B. Du Bois, who championed Africa’s liberation. He criticized the global financial architecture for hindering Africa’s progress, particularly in climate negotiations, saying Africa suffers disproportionately despite contributing least to emissions.
Mahama announced plans to form a League of African Free Movement Countries, initially comprising seven nations, to abolish visa requirements and promote continental integration. He urged leaders to empower youth, citing Africa’s youthful population and creative potential.
“The next generation of Pan-Africanists will gather in innovation hubs and digital communities, not secret rooms,” Mahama said, calling for a borderless Africa and a fairer global order.
