Nat’l Tymes News Desk
NATIONAL Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has called on African countries to move beyond political independence and focus on achieving true economic freedom to secure lasting development.
Speaking at the Third Meeting of the Standing Committee of the International Movement for the Freedom of Nations in Saint Petersburg on June 25, 2026, Mr. Asiedu Nketia said many developing countries, including those in Africa, remain politically independent but continue to operate under global economic systems they have little control over.
He recalled the words of Ghana’s first President, Kwame Nkrumah, who argued that political independence would be meaningless without economic independence. According to him, that warning remains relevant more than six decades later because many nations still struggle to control their own economic future.
Mr. Asiedu Nketia said although colonial rule has ended, new forms of influence continue to shape the fortunes of many countries through international finance, trade rules, technology ownership, development funding and global institutions. He noted that these modern systems often limit the ability of developing nations to make independent economic decisions.
He stressed that Africa’s history of slavery, colonialism and exploitation continues to affect its development today. He argued that wealth and strong institutions are built over generations, and therefore the effects of centuries of exploitation cannot simply disappear with time.
Touching on the issue of reparatory justice, the NDC Chairman said Ghana has taken a leading role in pushing for global recognition of the lasting impact of slavery and colonialism. He cited the 2023 Accra Reparations Conference jointly organised by Ghana and the African Union, which adopted the Accra Proclamation on Reparations.
He also welcomed the recent adoption of United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/80/250, introduced by Ghana on behalf of the African Group and supported by 123 member states. He described the resolution as a major milestone because it formally acknowledges that the consequences of the transatlantic slave trade and slavery continue to deserve international attention.
Mr. Asiedu Nketia further praised the appointment of John Dramani Mahama as the African Union Champion on Reparations. He said the appointment reflects Africa’s growing determination to move discussions on reparatory justice from academic debates to international policy and diplomacy.
The NDC Chairman, however, cautioned African leaders against relying solely on history to explain the continent’s challenges. He said while historical injustices must be recognised, Africa must also focus on building strong institutions, promoting industrialisation, investing in technology and improving education if it wants to transform its economies.
He observed that Africa possesses vast mineral resources, fertile agricultural land and one of the world’s youngest populations, but warned that these advantages would mean little if the continent continues exporting raw materials without adding value.
He urged African governments to position their countries to benefit from emerging industries such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing and clean energy.
Mr. Asiedu Nketia said the fight against neocolonialism would not be won through speeches alone but through competent governance, technological innovation, regional integration and economic transformation. According to him, African countries must become producers of technology and industrial goods rather than remaining consumers and exporters of raw materials.
He concluded by reaffirming Ghana’s commitment to international cooperation based on equality and mutual respect. He said the country does not seek isolation or new forms of dependency but supports a fair global order where all nations, regardless of their size, have an equal voice in shaping the rules that govern international trade, finance and development.
Mr. Asiedu Nketia said the future of Africa depends on matching political sovereignty with economic strength, adding that achieving common prosperity remains the continent’s most important unfinished task.
Source: Nationaltymes.com
