Pan-African Progressive Forces demand unity from African leaders at Accra conference

Accra played host to a high-level Pan-African forum on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, as delegates passionately called for stronger African unity, sovereignty, and a decisive push to complete the vision of Dr Kwame Nkrumah.

Organised by the Pan-African Progressive Front (PPF), the International Conference Commemorating the 5th Anniversary of the Manchester Pan-African Congress opened with discussions on political unity and African sovereignty, economic justice, and alternatives to the existing global order, followed by the screening of the documentary titled Pan-Africanism: The Fire of Freedom, tracing the history and legacy of the Pan-African movement.

The two-day ceremony, officially opened by President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana, was also marked with a symbolic ‘Black Star’ formation around the Kwame Nkrumah Monument, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Fifth Pan-African Congress.

The first session, themed “Political Unity and African Sovereignty: From Nkrumah's Dream to 21st Century Reality,” was chaired by Fred M’membe of the Socialist Party of Zambia, with Victoria Wilson serving as rapporteur.

Dr Gamel Nasser Adam delivered the main presentation on “Africa’s Underdevelopment: From Colonialism to Neo-Colonialism,” emphasising how Africa’s economic and political challenges had roots in both historical colonial structures and ongoing neo-colonial influences.

Dr Adam argued that “Africa must strengthen its institutions, deepen regional cooperation, and invest in homegrown development models if it is to break free from external control.” The session also featured interventions from Aaron G. Nelson (Liberian People’s Party) and Nabaloum Abdoulaye (CAMPAO), among others.

Delegates underscored the urgency of demanding reparations for colonial exploitation and the return of stolen cultural treasures, symbolised in the Stolen Artefacts exhibition, where 20 white canvases, each embedded with QR codes, represented looted African artifacts and their sacred significance.

The second session focused on economic justice and alternatives to the global economic order, chaired by Philippe T. Noudjenoume of PCB, Benin.

Prof. Akua Britwum, Chairperson of the National Media Commission in Ghana, presented a paper on how global financial power shaped the lives of working women in Africa, highlighting systemic inequalities perpetuated by international economic structures.

After her speech, delegates called for the establishment of a reparations fund, the imposition of customs duties on goods from former colonial powers, and comprehensive media coverage to ensure the reparations agenda remains a continental priority.

Other high-profile guests spiced up the opening day with solidarity messages. Among them were former Ghanaian President John Agyekum Kufuor; representatives of Venezuela, Niger, Ivory Coast, Cuba, Western Sahara, Algeria, Sierra Leone, Tunisia, and Libya; as well as Ghanaian labour and civil society leaders.

The event concluded with remarks from President John Dramani Mahama, Africa’s champion for reparations, who reaffirmed the need for unity, sovereignty, and justice for the continent.

The conference also observed a special campaign at the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, organised by bloggers and journalists in solidarity with Mariam Cisse, the young woman from Tonka, Mali, who was recently executed by suspected jihadists. Delegates described the act as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggles African peoples face and the need for collective action.

Organisers of the two-day conference, Pan-African Progressive Front (PPF), emphasised that Africa’s future depended on stronger continental cohesion, economic independence, and a steadfast demand for reparations to right historical injustices.

The massive conference attracted participants from over 50 countries in Africa and the diaspora.

The Pan-African Progressive Forces will sign a declaration at the end of the conference to press for reparations and redefine Africa’s political and economic future.