Every year, on September 21st, progressives across Ghana gather to celebrate the Festival of Unity, a commemoration of the birth of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. It is a time to remember a leader whose vision was for Africa to be united, inspired, and free from all forms of domination. The Festival of Unity is not merely a party or cultural show; it is a call to reflection, mobilisation, and renewal.
This year’s festival is especially significant as it aligns with the Second Delegates Congress of the Socialist Movement of Ghana (SMG), which was held on October 15, 2025, in Accra. The gathering brought together members and supporters of the SMG, the Progressive Alliance for Ghana (PAG), and the Social Justice Movement of Ghana (SJMG) to chart a way forward for social justice in Ghana and across Africa.
On behalf of the PAG, fraternal greetings were delivered to the delegates, reminding them that despite numerous conflicts in the world, Ghana must not lose sight of its own challenges. The address pointed out that the new National Democratic Congress (NDC) government came to power not on the strength of a bold agenda to dismantle neo-colonial structures but largely because Ghanaians rejected the corruption of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
“The people voted overwhelmingly against the NPP because its corruption became intolerable and unbearable,” the speaker said. “However, this new administration has come to power without a clear political programme to confront the neo-colonial state. Today, Ghana faces a fragile economy, increasing unemployment, and the menace of illegal mining, which is destroying our rivers. If this continues unchecked, we may soon face the shameful reality of importing water in our own land.”
The address also criticised the Mahama administration’s role in facilitating deportations under U.S. immigration policies, describing government claims of ECOWAS free movement as inadequate and calling for clarity on any hidden agreements behind such actions. On regional instability, the speaker cautioned that conflicts in Burkina Faso and across the Sahel continue to threaten Ghana’s security, while civil wars in South Sudan, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo are still unresolved.
Attention was also drawn to global struggles. The war in Gaza was described as genocidal, with a call for Israel to be held accountable by the international community, while a peaceful resolution was urged in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
“We cannot close our eyes to the horrors unfolding in Gaza and across the Palestinian territories,” the address declared. “What is taking place is genocide—one as grave as the Holocaust. We therefore call on the international community to act with courage, to disarm Israel, and to hold it accountable for the endless wars it fuels in the Middle East. In the same spirit, we urge dialogue and peaceful resolution in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, because ordinary people on both sides are paying the ultimate price.”
Yet amid these challenges, rays of hope were highlighted in the efforts of BRICS nations to build a new economic order. “The BRICS project represents a real opportunity to escape the dominance of Western hegemony,” the address continued. “We call on the Government of Ghana to actively engage with this initiative, because it offers a path to sustainable development and genuine mutual partnership, unlike the exploitative arrangements that have tied our nation down for decades.”
The speech concluded with a strong call for unity, urging the SMG to partner with the PAG and other progressive organisations to form a single political front capable of leading Ghana’s development and breaking free from neo-colonial control. Delegates were reminded that the greatest tribute to Nkrumah’s legacy is for progressive forces to come together to chart a new course for social and economic justice in Ghana and across Africa.
Forward together
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