Young people from across Africa have issued a strong call for economic and political sovereignty, declaring that the continent’s future must no longer be shaped by external interests or decisions taken without meaningful African participation.
The call was contained in the Legon Declaration, adopted on Saturday, September 5, 2026, by delegates attending the International Youth Forum on the theme “Africa’s Freedom Is in Our Hands” in Accra.
The declaration, endorsed by youth delegates from Ghana, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and other parts of the continent, challenges what the participants described as persistent structures of economic dependency, colonial-era extraction and limited youth participation in Africa’s affairs.
The delegates said Africa’s youth had inherited debts, economic systems and institutional arrangements they did not create, arguing that the continent must urgently examine the historical foundations of its financial obligations and resource relationships.
They called for comprehensive audits of African debts and the cancellation of obligations they consider illegitimate, insisting that African countries should not continue to finance development through systems that perpetuate economic exploitation.
The declaration also raised strong concerns about the CFA franc monetary system, describing monetary sovereignty as an essential component of national independence.
According to the delegates, African countries must have greater control over their monetary and economic policies and should pursue arrangements that reflect the interests and aspirations of their own people.
The youth participants further expressed solidarity with the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) comprising Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, presenting developments in those countries as part of a wider debate on African sovereignty and self-determination. Read Also: The Resetting Agenda: How Paul Adjei Is Rebuilding GETFund, Project by Project
They said the experience of the Sahel countries demonstrated that African nations could explore alternative approaches to controlling their resources, security, economic policies and national narratives.
The delegates also renewed calls for reparations for Africa, arguing that the continent’s historical exploitation through slavery, colonialism and the extraction of natural resources had contributed significantly to the development of institutions and economies outside Africa.
They maintained that reparations should be treated as an issue of justice rather than charity.
A major focus of the declaration was the role of young Africans in shaping the continent’s future.
The delegates declared themselves “Ambassadors for the Future of Africa”, stressing that young people must no longer remain spectators while decisions affecting their future are negotiated by others.
They pledged to take the message of the forum to campuses, communities and countries across Africa through education, public campaigns and other lawful forms of civic engagement.
The youth also committed themselves to organising peaceful demonstrations, public campaigns and other forms of direct civic action to draw attention to issues surrounding Africa’s debt, resource extraction and economic independence. https://dailydemocratnewsonline.com/
They further resolved to establish a united network of youth movements committed to African independence and to building stronger connections among young people in Ghana, the AES countries and other parts of the continent.
The declaration called for African youth to reject divisions based on nationality, language and geographical boundaries, arguing that the continent’s challenges require collective action and solidarity.
The delegates also pledged to transform the declaration into a continuing campaign rather than allowing it to remain a symbolic document.
They promised to monitor progress, report on their activities and hold themselves, political leaders and institutions accountable for commitments made at the forum.
In a powerful closing statement, the delegates acknowledged that the struggle for African freedom would not be achieved through a single gathering or generation.
However, they maintained that the continent’s young people had a responsibility to challenge silence and complacency and to ensure that future generations inherit a more independent and prosperous Africa.
The Legon Declaration was adopted by acclamation by the youth delegates present at the International Youth Forum in Accra on September 5, 2026.
