President John Dramani Mahama has called for a renewed continental push toward economic liberation, technological sovereignty, and deeper unity, warning that Africa continues to face modern forms of domination despite decades of political independence.
Speaking at the 80th anniversary commemoration of the Fifth Pan-African Congress at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park in Accra on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, President Mahama said Africa’s vast natural wealth has not translated into meaningful global power.
“Africa remains a continent rich in natural resources but poor in global influence,” he stated, adding that although colonial chains have been broken, the continent now confronts “economic, technological, ideological and political” domination.
He stressed that political independence was only the first step envisioned by the early Pan-Africanists who gathered in Manchester in 1945. “Political liberation must open the door to economic and social liberation,” he said.
Reflecting on the significance of the Fifth Pan-African Congress, he noted that the 1945 meeting became “the turning point that accelerated the liberation of our continent from colonial domination.”
President Mahama highlighted the work of Kwame Nkrumah, George Padmore, W.E.B. Du Bois, Jomo Kenyatta, and Ras Makonnen, saying they carried the aspirations of millions and left a clear message: “Africa must take its destiny into its own hands … and the dignity of African people is not negotiable.”
He cautioned that Africa’s modern challenges are more complex, pointing to the need for economic transformation, climate justice, technological independence, and a fairer global financial order. He insisted the continent’s youthful population, natural resources, and cultural vibrancy must translate into real opportunities.
The President also criticised the current global political and financial systems for undermining Africa’s progress, especially in climate negotiations.
“Africa contributes least to global emissions yet suffers most,” he said.
“We must approach global climate negotiations not as passive recipients of aid, but as equal partners demanding fairness, investment, and respect for our right to develop.”
To deepen continental integration, President Mahama announced plans to form a League of African Free Movement Countries, an initial group of seven nations that will abolish visa requirements for each other’s citizens.
“I will write to the Presidents of the seven countries. If any of our citizens want to travel to each other’s countries, they won’t require a visa,” he said, describing it as the first step toward a borderless Africa.
“It is a shame that we still have to travel to each other’s countries asking for a visa.”
He urged African leaders to centre the continent’s youth, noting that more than 60 per cent of Africa’s population is under 35.
“The next generation of Pan-Africanists will not gather in secret rooms. They will gather in innovation hubs, coding labs, creative studios, and digital communities,” he said.
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