The Pan-African Progressive Front (PPF) has adopted a sweeping resolution aimed at renewing the revolutionary spirit of the 1945 Manchester Pan-African Congress, calling for a united, self-reliant, and economically sovereign Africa.
The declaration, now formally known as the Accra Declaration, was presented by veteran journalist, Kwesi Pratt Jnr, at the close of the international commemoration of the 5th Pan-African Congress held in Accra last week.
The event marked the 80th anniversary of the Manchester Congress, which ignited global momentum against colonialism and set Africa on the path to independence.
Delegates from across the continent and the Diaspora, including progressive political parties, trade unions, youth and student groups, women’s organisations, peasant groups, cultural workers and global African activists attended the gathering.
Reading from the Accra Declaration, Mr. Pratt said the purpose of the resolution was to “re-engineer the ideological foundations” laid in Manchester eight decades ago – foundations that challenged imperialism, racism and the exploitation of African peoples.
“The workers, students, intellectuals and freedom fighters of 1945 demanded the end of foreign domination and affirmed that Africa’s resources belong to its people,” he said.
The declaration evoked the memories of historical Pan-Africanists such as Kamenu, John Batu, Emi Asuka, Marie Dvorak, Joe Bokinot and Rastafari, praised for their courage and commitment to human rights and liberation.
Seven Core Commitments of the Accra Declaration
The PPF’s new resolution outlines bold commitments aimed at transforming Africa’s political, economic and social landscape, and among them are:
Complete political and economic liberation through popular participation and full unification of the continent.
Africa’s wealth, the declaration said, must be “socially owned and managed for the benefit of all its people, including its Diaspora.”
It also advocated for full control of Africa’s natural resources by Africans to drive strategic industrialisation and adoption of a continental industrialisation framework, prioritising manufacturing, technology and value addition alongside continent-wide infrastructure, including railways and electric vehicle networks.
The assembly also proclaimed that reparatory justice must be central to Africa’s global advocacy. A proposed Pan-African institutional architecture for reparations will include:
A Joint Institute for Harm Assessment to document colonial legacies, a Pan-African Reparatory Justice Fund, operating with transparency, to support education, health, cultural restitution and infrastructure projects.
An International Solidarity Contribution Mechanism, allowing voluntary contributions from states and multinational corporations that benefited from Africa’s exploitation. Contributions may include up to one percent of the value of related products and operations.
Mahama: More African Countries to Join Visa-Free Regime
President John Dramani Mahama, addressing the congress, announced that Ghana was finalising arrangements with seven additional African countries to establish a visa-free travel regime to boost free movement of people, goods and services.
He clarified that this initiative excludes ECOWAS countries, “as the policy is already in force within the sub-region.”
Mr. Mahama also reiterated the need for Africa to build economic and technological sovereignty to match its political independence.
Former President Agyekum Kufuor, on his part, emphasised that Africa must make better use of its vast natural resources to break cycles of poverty and underdevelopment, particularly for the youth.
He called on African nations and global partners, including countries in the Caribbean, to deepen cooperation and mutual support during crises.
Renewing the Pan-African Covenant
Delegates agreed that the continent’s current challenges—economic domination, technological dependency, climate threats, political instability, rising unemployment and youth disenfranchisement represent a continuation of the struggle waged in Manchester.
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