On Joy Prime on September 22, Professor P.L.O. Lumumba cautioned that the political independence achieved by African nations during the era of Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, is now being eroded by external economic and political influence.
Speaking about Nkrumah’s legacy, the professor noted that while African countries gained formal independence from colonial rule, many still face constraints that limit their ability to make fully independent decisions. He said Nkrumah had warned that political independence would remain vulnerable if not backed by economic independence and African unity.
"When Nkrumah said, first the political kingdom and the rest will be added unto you, he was clear that the neocoloniser would want to come back in subterranean ways," Prof. Lumumba said, citing Nkrumah’s book Neo‑Colonialism: The Last Stage of Imperialism. He warned that if African states remain disunited and operate in silos, even political independence could be undermined.
He questioned the depth of independence in parts of Africa, arguing that national symbols and African‑led governments do not necessarily amount to true sovereignty. "I am of the view that many African countries are only independent to the extent that they have flags, to the extent that they have national anthems, to the extent that they have black faces as presidents or ministers, but in truth, they are not," he said.
Prof. Lumumba pointed to the influence of international financial institutions, noting that the IMF and World Bank still dictate policy. He also highlighted other areas of external influence, including currency systems and electoral processes, and described some African countries as operating as “satellite states” of external powers.
He argued that attempts to pursue greater independence can face pressure to conform to existing international arrangements, and that Africa’s continued political fragmentation makes it harder for individual countries to exert collective influence on the global stage. He linked the continent’s political challenges to conflicts in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Cameroon, noting that governance remains a pressing issue across the continent.
Prof. Lumumba concluded that Nkrumah envisioned Ghana as a launching pad for African liberation and unity, and that the erosion of political independence threatens that vision. He urged renewed focus on African unity to counter the lingering effects of neocolonialism.
