Story by, Paul Mensah Nsor
In a landmark International conference commemorating the 5th Pan-African Congress that echoes the historic 1945 Manchester Pan-African Congress, contemporary African intellectuals, freedom fighters, and movement leaders have issued a bold manifesto for continental liberation, signaling a powerful renewed commitment to economic self-determination and pan-African solidarity.
Speaking at the International conference commemorating the 5th Pan-African Congress in Accra-Ghana, Kwasi Pratt Jnr, General Secretary of the Socialist Movement of Ghana, delivered a thunderous address that simultaneously honored historical revolutionary figures and charted an ambitious path for Africa's future.
"The political and economic liberation of Africa is one indivisible struggle," Pratt declared, invoking the memories of pan-African giants like Kwame Nkrumah, George Padmore, and Jomo Kenyatta. His speech was a passionate rebuke to the persistent structures of economic colonialism that continue to grip the continent decades after political independence.
Key Declarations of the Congress:
1. Economic Sovereignty
The congress unequivocally proclaimed that Africa's resources belong to its people. Delegates demanded full reclamation of natural resources, strategic industries, and a complete overhaul of economic relationships that have historically favored external powers.
2. Continental Unification
A radical vision of political and economic unification was presented, emphasizing popular participation and democratic management of continental wealth. The goal is not merely political independence, but true economic emancipation.
3. Industrial and Infrastructural Transformation
The congress proposed an ambitious continental industrialization plan, including a comprehensive network of railways, roads, energy corridors, and digital infrastructure to connect African capitals and major cities.
4. Monetary and Financial Independence
A groundbreaking proposal to create an independent African monetary system was put forward, coupled with a demand to cancel illegitimate external debts accumulated through decades of imperial manipulation.
5. Educational and Technological Empowerment
Plans were outlined to establish a network of Pan-African universities focused on training scientists, engineers, and professionals directly aligned with the continent's social and industrial needs.
6. Military and Sovereign Defense
The congress emphasized developing an independent military-industrial capacity to secure sovereignty and protect against foreign interventions, with a clear stance against any foreign military presence on African soil.
A comprehensive approach to addressing historical injustices was proposed, including a framework for securing reparations for slavery, colonialism, and ongoing economic crimes.
Pratt's closing words captured the revolutionary spirit: "We shall build a United Africa that controls its land, labor, resources and destiny, that uplifts women, youth and workers, and that acts as a beacon of freedom for all humanity."
The congress represents more than a meeting; it is a clarion call for a new era of pan-African consciousness. By invoking the spirit of the 1945 Manchester Congress while addressing contemporary challenges, these leaders are writing a new chapter in the ongoing struggle for African liberation.
As applause filled the hall, it was clear that this was not just a conference, but the beginning of a movement – a collective pledge to transform the African continent from a site of historical exploitation to a powerful, unified force of global significance.
The era of economic subjugation, the delegates proclaimed, is over. The age of Pan-African solidarity has begun.
