President Mahama calls for continued fight for African freedom and unity
President John Dramani Mahama has called for renewed commitment to African unity, freedom, and shared prosperity, stressing that the struggle for the continent’s full emancipation remains unfinished.
Speaking at a public engagement following his receipt of the International Statesperson Award from the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia, President Mahama said African leaders have a duty to continue the legacy of liberation pioneers who fought for independence and sovereignty across the continent.
According to him, the ideals of freedom and self-determination must remain central to governance and leadership in Africa.
“Being an African statesperson has meant, and still continues to mean, fighting for and protecting the sovereignty of the land and the freedom of your people,” he said. “Ensuring that the peoples of that land are the primary beneficiaries of its resources.”
President Mahama emphasised that African unity is essential for the continent’s development, urging leaders to look beyond colonial-era boundaries and work together in the spirit of cooperation and shared progress.
He reflected on the sacrifices of Africa’s founding figures, noting that their struggles laid the foundation for the continent’s current political and economic journey.
“What we fight for is the freedom of our future generations,” he stated. “What fuels our vision and our actions is the boundless love that we have for our people and for our continent.”
The former President also paid tribute to global icons of liberation, including Nelson Mandela, describing his emergence from prison in 1990 as a defining moment in global history that reshaped perceptions of African leadership.
President Mahama further referenced Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, alongside other African leaders such as Julius Nyerere, Kenneth Kaunda, Seretse Khama, Gamal Abdel Nasser, and Jomo Kenyatta, highlighting their enduring influence on modern African governance and ideology.
He expressed gratitude for the recognition and reaffirming his belief in the continued advancement of the African continent.
“Aluta Continua,” he said, signalling that the struggle for justice, unity, and development in Africa must go on.
