The African Progressive Forces (PPF) is commemorating the 80th anniversary of the historic 5th Pan-African Congress with a high-level gathering in Accra, held under the theme: “From Historical Memory to Economic and Political Justice.”
The 5th Pan-African Congress, convened in Manchester in 1945, remains a defining moment in Africa’s liberation history.
Though not the first of its kind, it shifted Pan-Africanism from elite intellectual debate to a grassroots movement for action.
It was at this congress that figures such as Kwame Nkrumah, Jomo Kenyatta, W.E.B. Du Bois, George Padmore, and Amy Ashwood Garvey collectively demanded immediate independence, workers’ rights, and an end to colonial exploitation.
Organisers say the Accra commemoration seeks to rekindle that spirit, positioning the moment as a new wave in the push for Africa’s true liberation.
The gathering aims to interrogate the continent’s political independence, spotlight economic self-reliance, and advance calls for continental unity and justice for centuries of enslavement and resource extraction.
Echoing the words of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, “The independence of Ghana is meaningless unless it is linked with the total liberation of Africa,” the PPF says this principle continues to guide its mission and Africa’s broader struggle.
Conference deliberations will examine Africa’s present challenges and aspirations, including the pursuit of reparations, economic independence, and resistance to new forms of external dependency.
The meeting is expected to produce two major outcomes, a strategic framework for Africa’s sovereignty and prosperity and the adoption of the Accra Declaration, a unified statement capturing shared visions and practical commitments of participating delegates.
The PPF describes the commemoration as more than an event, a revitalised Pan-African movement where ideas translate into concrete action.
Beyond speeches and debates, attendees will engage with exhibitions, including displays of stolen African artifacts, and strengthen bonds of solidarity linking past struggles to present ambitions.
The official launch will be performed by Ghana’s President and African Union Champion for Reparations, H.E. John Mahama, whose leadership organisers say reflects a renewed continental commitment to collective progress.
Several heads of state and high-level dignitaries are expected to participate.
Ghana’s pivotal role in Pan-African history remains central to the commemoration. Since gaining independence in 1957, Accra became a hub for liberation movements and a centre for Pan-African thought.
Hosting the 80th anniversary in the city is seen as both symbolic and strategic, connecting the spirit of 1945 with Africa’s 21st-century aspirations.
As organisers note, while the call in 1945 was for independence, the call in 2025 is for integration, justice, and power.
The Accra Declaration is expected to signal Africa’s resolve to shape its own destiny in a just and multipolar world.
Source: Myxyzonline.com
