Africa’s continuous reliance on colonial systems for economic and political direction is nothing short of tragic, veteran journalist and Pan-Africanist, Kwesi Pratt Jnr, has emphasised.
He insisted that the continent must “stop taking prescriptions from those who poisoned them,” arguing that the very nations responsible for Africa’s exploitation cannot offer the cure for its underdevelopment.
Furthermore, Mr. Pratt explained that Africa’s poverty and structural weaknesses were direct legacies of slavery and colonialism, warning that imitating the paths of Britain, France, and Germany, among others, would only lead Africa into further ruin.
“We are borrowing our own money from foreign banks and the IMF, but at enormous interest rates. This must be stopped,” he declared.
Mr. Pratt made these remarks at the launch of his new book “Reparations. History, Struggle, Politics and Law” in Accra on September 9, 2025, with the support of the Pan-African Progressive Front (PPF).
The event drew a distinguished audience, including Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama, ambassadors, high commissioners, traditional leaders, and political representatives.
The book, described by many as groundbreaking, lays out for the first time a clear, simple, yet uncompromising argument for reparations.
It links the historical crimes of slavery and colonialism with practical proposals for compensation, estimating Africa’s entitlement at trillions of dollars: $2–3 trillion for unpaid slave labour, $4–6 trillion for colonial extraction, $500 billion for debt cancellation, $50 billion for stolen artefacts, and $1 trillion for climate reparations.
Before launching the book, President Mahama, who wrote the foreword, emphasised that reparations were not optional benevolence but a necessity for justice. “Reparations are not charity. They are justice, and justice must be visible,” he told the gathering, commending Mr. Pratt for producing a work that gave direction to Africa’s struggle.
The atmosphere of the event was light and festive. Music by Freedom Band and Knii Lante Blankson set the tone, while poet Vicky Wilson recited poems about reparations.
At the same time, Kwesi Pratt’s main message remained uncompromisingly resolute: Africa must reclaim its future by freeing itself from the structures imposed by its colonial past.
Written with the support of the Pan-African Progressive Front (PPF), the book has already been presented to Heads of State at the African Union summit in Malabo in July 2025, receiving massive endorsement from African leaders.
“This book is not just about history, it is a call to action. Reparations must reorganise the world and lay the foundation for a self-reliant Africa,” he said.
President Mahama noted that institutions such as the United Nations, the IMF and the World Bank were established without African input and continue to perpetuate inequalities rooted in colonial exploitation.
The Head of Ghana, who wrote the foreword to the book, described it as both timely and transformative. “Kwesi Pratt has done the heavy lifting for our generation, giving us facts, figures and pathways,” he said.
President Mahama later bought the first copy for GH¢200,000, after which the remaining nine gold-plated copies were auctioned between GH¢100,000 and GH¢10,000.
Earlier, Ambassador Kabral Blay-Amihere had kept the expectant audience salivating for the rich content of the book following his suspense-filled review.
The Chairperson of the occasion, historian Kyeretwie Opoku, urged Africans to see reparations as a collective duty. “No single individual, organisation or government can carry this demand alone. Reparations must be pursued as a collective African struggle, fought with one voice,” he said.
Earlier in August 2025, the book was presented at a forum in Johannesburg, South Africa, where it was warmly received by some lawyers, experts and activists from across Africa.
Demand for the book has since skyrocketed, requiring an additional print run.
The book is written for activists, students, public leaders, and African youth. For anyone who thinks and is ready to take action, ready to openly express their opinions and fight for a better world for themselves, their loved ones, their country, and their continent.
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