The day May 25, always reminds of Kwame Nkrumah's March 6, 1957, as the First President of the Republic of Ghana speech specifically the sentence, “The Independence of Ghana is (Absolutely) meaningless unless it is linked up with the total liberation of the African Continent.” 

The first conference of independent African states was held in 1958 in Ghana to deliberate on African issues. In the early 1960’s, two blocs emerged. One, the Casablanca Group, consisting of the more “radical” states was created in January 1961 under the leadership of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana. It argued for Pan-African political unity. And the other, like what we are experiencing today, the Monrovia Group, at that time included the more “Conservative” African states, met and outlined a programme of gradual economic Unity. Primarily, through the efforts of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, of Nigeria, Guinea’s, Sokou Toure and other representatives from most independent African states met in Addis Ababa in 1963 and on May 25, 1963, O.A.U, now A.U. was founded by 30 states.

Certain quarters have accused us of being more concerned with our status, with being addressed as “Sirs” and “Madams” rather than with the economic plight of the African people. Our reply is that such accusations can come only from those who think of the African as an economic animal, a thing to be fed and not as a human being. It is only those who have been herrenvolkenised by their Herrenvolk environment, who have no idea whatsoever of the African personality, and can expect us to be lick-spittles in order to get more crumbs from the oppressor.

Others again have said that we have chosen a soft campaign, without any risks, because we fear to challenge apartheid, totally. Let it be clear that we are not fighting just apartheid. We are fighting the whole concept of white supremacy in the Black identity, the pride of Africa. And we are fully aware of the nature and size of our task. And we will not shirk it. Right from the beginning of the campaign, the leaders will be in front. They will picket the concerns that are to be boycotted. And they will do so under our slogan of “no bail, no defence, no fine.” And that slogan will not be changed until we land on the shores of freedom, independence and unity among African states.

In his own words, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah declared that “Africa is one continent, one people, and one nation. The notion that in order to have a nation it is necessary for there to be a common language, a common territory and common culture has failed to stand the test of time or the scrutiny of the scientific definition of objective reality... The community of economic life is the major feature within a nation, and it is the economy that holds together the people living in a territory. It is on this basis that the new African recognises himself as part of a potential nation, whose dominion is the entire African continent.”

I, therefore, call, first of all on the members of the Pan-Africanist Congress who are the hardcore, the advance guard, that must lead the struggle and on the African people. All of them, without exception, must wait for the call. They will be kept informed of every step we take. And when the call comes, I expect them to respond like a disciplined people. There is plenty of suffering ahead, the oppressor will not take this, lying down. But we are ready. We will not go back. Come what may. This campaign will be maintained, unfolded and expanded until African Unity is achieved.

The words by Marcus Garvey were meant to strengthen Africans at the time when he declared, “The Black skin is not a badge of shame, but rather a glorious symbol of national greatness”. It even got worse, when African Christians were hoping for a day that God will send angels to unite Africa. Garvey retaliates that, “We must give up the silly idea of folding our hands and waiting on God to do everything for us. If God had intended for that, then he would not have given us brains with which to think. Whatever you want in life, you must make up your mind to do it for yourself.

Before we can properly help the people (of Africa), we have to destroy the old education… that teaches them somebody is keeping them back, God has forgotten them and that they cannot rise because of their colour. We can only with faith, build in ourselves, self-reliance, believing in our own possibilities that we can rise to the highest in God’s creation”

Our fathers fought bravely. But do you know the biggest weapon unleashed by the enemy against them? It was not the Maxim gun. It was division amongst them. Why? Because a people united in faith are stronger than the bomb

We will not look back. We will not deviate, and as the heat of oppression mounts, we shall become purer and purer, learning new lessons, and leaving all the dross of racialism and similar evils behind, to emerge as a people, mentally and physically disciplined, appreciative of the fact that, Africa will write its own history, and it will be, to the north and to the south of the Sahara, a history of glory and dignity.

Unity makes the blood of the African, rich and unique.

 I am proud to be a Pan-Africanist.

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This article was written by Bernard Kofi Dom, a student of the Evangelical Presbyterian University College, Ho. He can be contacted via email at dombernardkofi@gmail.com