Political independence incomplete without economic freedom — Asiedu Nketiah

National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has called for greater economic sovereignty for African countries.

He argues that political independence remains incomplete without economic liberation.

According to him, Africa must move beyond its traditional role as a supplier of raw materials and become an equal partner in industrial development, technology and value creation.

Mr. Asiedu Nketiah made the remarks in a social media post on Friday, June 26, after participating in the third Standing Committee Meeting of the "For the Freedom of Nations!" Movement hosted by the United Russia Party.

"Our engagements throughout the summit blended strategic diplomacy with a profound policy message: true Pan-Africanism cannot exist without economic liberation," he wrote.

The NDC chairman said decades after Ghana's first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, warned against neo-colonialism, many African countries continue to operate within financial and trade systems shaped by external interests.

He argued that genuine independence cannot be achieved if African resources, financial systems and trade arrangements continue to be governed by rules established outside the continent.

Mr. Asiedu Nketiah also stressed the need for reparatory justice, describing it as a matter of accountability rather than blame.

"My personal conviction is clear: our fight for reparatory justice is not rooted in sentiment, nor is it about assigning guilt to present generations for the actions of the past. Rather, it is a firm demand for accountability," he stated.

He further indicated that meaningful international cooperation must take into account historical processes that contributed to existing global inequalities.

According to him, true sovereignty can only be attained through effective governance and strong institutions capable of translating political freedom into economic prosperity.