The fate of Africa’s future will be determined next month when the Pan-African Progressive Front (PPF) unites pan-African forces around the world to revive Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s cherished dream of a united Africa free from oppression.
From October 20 to 21, Accra, the epicenter of the pan-African struggle, will host a gathering of renowned torchbearers carrying the torch towards African prosperity.
This event is part of the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Fifth Pan-African Congress in Manchester in 1945, a meeting that inspired Africa to fight for independence.
The grand event is expected to feature pan-African leaders such as Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama, Ibrahim Traore from Burkina Faso, and progressive Cuban leader Miguel Diaz-Canel, as well as representatives of pan-African movements from across Africa and the diaspora.
It will culminate in the signing of the Accra Declaration of Pan-African Progressive Forces, which outlines the goals and objectives of Africa’s development strategies for decades to come.
The conference also aims to instill Dr. Nkrumah’s principles in the current generation of Africans and to awaken in them the desire to fight for their rights and restore Africa’s pride. It is symbolic that progressive pan-African leaders will gather at the University of Ghana.
In preparation for this large-scale event, the PPF has in recent weeks sent a petition to the European Parliament demanding reparations, organized public lectures on emancipation for young people, and supported African activists advocating for restorative justice on various international platforms.
The PPF’s intensive campaign also supported the release of Comrade Kwesi Pratt Jr.’s book on reparations and the participation of PPF Coordinating Committee member in the ECOSOC African Citizens Forum in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.
Dr. Eric Don Arthur, a member of the PPF Coordinating Committee, summed up the PPF’s expectations as follows: “This is a loud call for the mobilization and unification of all Africans for the complete dismantling and elimination of all artificial borders established by the European colonial powers at the Berlin Conference in 1884-1885,” which still divide the continent.
He described the PPF as a movement advocating for political freedom and economic emancipation as the final step towards achieving genuine African independence from the remnants of colonialism.
“We are paving the way for unification and the immediate establishment of a continental government in Africa: a united African continent,” he said.
“We will demand compensation for the damage and the return of all treasures and artifacts looted from the African continent by former European imperialists and colonialists,” he added.
Maame Abena Asare, Head of PPF’s Event Planning and Coordination Department, said that the PPF has emerged as a tool for reviving pan-Africanism.
“It was created to encourage various movements and activists to achieve better results in their respective roles in the struggle.
“The timing of the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Manchester Congress in Accra in 2025 is well chosen, given the events on the continent and around the world, and a time when the energy of Africans is ready for a consistent movement towards real sovereignty and self-determination,” she explained.
For Freda Antonio, Head of the Administrative Department of the Pan-African Progressive Front, the PPF is more than just an organization. This movement brings to life the unfulfilled dreams of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, George Padmore, and other pan-Africans who believed in Africa’s ability to determine its own destiny.
“I see the PPF as a platform where ideas are translated into actions, where solidarity is expressed not only in words but also in practice, and where we create conditions that guarantee freedom and dignity for future generations.
“As we approach the upcoming conference in Accra, I have high hopes not only for the upcoming discussions but also for the decisions that will shape Africa’s future. This meeting means a lot to me personally because it is both a remembrance of the historic congress of 1945 and a living commitment to continue this struggle in the present day,” she said.
“I hope that the Conference will serve as a guideline for achieving pan-African unity and securing reparations for economic transformation. For me, this moment is a confirmation of faith in our collective strength and a guarantee that Africa will enter the future as a united force. I believe it’s possible, I believe in Africa!”
Sumaila Mohammed, Head of the PPF’s Economic Department, said: “Working with the Pan-African Progressive Front is a really rewarding experience. The PPF’s motto, ‘We mobilize people, we liberate minds,’ reflects my vision of our work. Our focused planning, collaboration, and shared vision can lead to real results.”
“The goal of the organization is to bring together people from different sectors and walks of life and create a space for constructive dialogue, something that I deeply appreciate and admire. As we prepare for the upcoming high-level international conference dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the 5th Pan-African Congress, I look forward to participating in discussions that will challenge our thinking and broaden our horizons,” he added.
Michael Mensah, Assistant Head of the PPF’s Policy Analysis Department, also said that working for the Pan-African Progressive Front has been a transformative political experience for him.
“Concerned that neocolonial structures continue to exploit African workers and resources, the PPF provides a platform to collectively fight this injustice.
“Looking forward to the upcoming conference, I anticipate thorough discussions and practical planning that will bring us closer to economic self-determination and social justice. I hope that we will improve the strategies for continental industrialization programmes.”
