Accra Hosts 80th Anniversary of 5th Pan-African Congress with Powerful Calls for Unity, Reparations and Continental Integration
Story by Eugene Nyarko Jnr. l Accra, Ghana
The Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, the symbolic home of modern Pan-Africanism, became the epicentre of renewed continental resolve on Tuesday as leaders, statesmen, diplomats, scholars and activists gathered for the official opening of the 80th Anniversary Conference of the 5th Pan-African Congress.
Organised by the Pan-African Progressive Front (PAPF), the event commemorated the historic 1945 Manchester Congress which ignited Africa’s anti-colonial movement and laid the foundation for the continent’s liberation struggles.
PAPF: “Africa Must Unite or Risk Losing Its Future”
Welcoming delegates, Eric G.A. Don-Arthur, member of the PAPF Coordinating Committee, declared that today’s Africa stands at “a critical juncture where the future of our people hangs in the balance.”
Don-Arthur reminded the gathering that the Manchester Congress was a defining moment when African workers, students, women and intellectuals boldly demanded an end to colonial rule.
He warned that the continent now faces “new and vicious forms of exploitation” through neocolonialism and external domination.
“This conference is more than a commemoration. It is a call to action,” he said. “We are here to demand liberation and restitution for the unspeakable crimes of slavery, colonialism and neocolonial plunder.”
He urged participants to craft actionable programmes to advance economic self-determination, continental integration and Africa’s total unification.
Former President Kufuor: “Africa Must Become a Borderless Continent”
Delivering his remarks as Special Guest of Honour, Former President John Agyekum Kufuor reflected on the historic 1945 gathering which brought together iconic liberation leaders including W.E.B. DuBois, George Padmore, Kwame Nkrumah, Jomo Kenyatta and Obafemi Awolowo.
He cautioned, however, that the early optimism of independence was soon dampened by structural challenges inherited from colonialism.
“The difference between the struggle for emancipation and the burden of inclusive governance became evident,” Kufuor said. “Artificial borders, economic dependence and geopolitical pressures continue to undermine our unity.”
He called for a borderless Africa built on expanded trade, infrastructure, finance, communication and shared cultural values.
Kufuor also highlighted the continent’s advantages—youthful population, technological adaptability, abundant resources and strategic geographic centrality—and urged African leaders to provide accountable, strategic leadership.
He emphasized the importance of people-to-people engagement, announcing the Africa Public Interest Media Initiative, designed to use modern media tools to bridge the gap between citizens and continental integration efforts.
President Mahama Opens Conference with Appeal for Pan-African Solidarity
Officially opening the conference, President John Dramani Mahama made a passionate call for renewed Pan-African solidarity, beginning with immediate support for Jamaica and Cuba in the wake of the devastating Hurricane Melissa.
He revealed that Ghana had already dispatched food items, medication, mattresses, blankets and other emergency supplies, and announced plans to send Ghanaian military engineers to assist with temporary shelters.
“The spirit of Pan-Africanism is solidarity,” Mahama said. “Our Caribbean brothers and sisters need us. Whatever African states can contribute—blankets, tarpaulins, tents—let us give.”
Mahama used the platform to reflect on the legacy of the 1945 Manchester Congress, noting that while Africa had won political liberation, the contemporary struggle lies in economic transformation, technological sovereignty, climate justice and democratic accountability.
He stressed the urgency of fully implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and enabling free movement across the continent.
In a major announcement, Mahama disclosed discussions toward forming an initial bloc of African countries that will abolish visa requirements for each other, signalling a new era of continental mobility.
“A divided Africa will always be a vulnerable Africa,” he said. “The struggle of our time is to build an integrated, prosperous and dignified continent.”
He affirmed Ghana’s commitment to building a nation—and by extension a continent—of opportunity, transparency, innovation and peace.
A New Dawn for Pan-Africanism
Speakers throughout the ceremony agreed that while the challenges of today differ from those of 1945, the mission remains unchanged:
Africa must unite to determine its own destiny.
The conference, which continues over the next two days, seeks to develop concrete policy pathways for continental government, economic emancipation and global influence.
As Don-Arthur concluded in his opening remarks:
“Africa must unite. Africa shall rise.”
The commemorative gathering in Accra aims to reignite the spirit of Manchester 1945 and chart a definitive course toward a unified, empowered and prosperous African future.
