The much-anticipated Pan African event, The Convention 2024, which was set to feature prominent figures such as Peter Obi, Professor P. L. O. Lumumba, Julius Malema and Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao, was abruptly cancelled just hours before it was due to commence.
This cancellation came as a surprise to many, especially considering that the government had previously approved the event in November 2023.
The Convention 2024 was scheduled for Sunday, January 7, 2024, at Independence Square in Accra, Ghana, coinciding with Ghana’s Constitution Day.
However, the organizers, the New Africa Foundation, were compelled to call off the event following a directive from the government received only a few hours before the start time.
At the time of the cancellation, the venue had already been filled with thousands of patrons who had traveled from across Ghana and around the world to attend the historic gathering. The distinguished guests, including Peter Obi, had also arrived in preparation for the event.
The New Africa Foundation expressed their shock and disappointment over the sudden turn of events, emphasizing that the cancellation was beyond their control.
They extended their apologies to the audience and the public for any inconvenience caused by this unforeseen cancellation.
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi also shared a content on his X handle.
Yesterday, I joined other notable and respected African voices like Prof P. L. O Lumumba from Kenya, Dr. Arikana from Zimbabwe and a host of others, at The Convention tagged ‘Igniting The Voices of Africa,’ organized by New Africa Foundation, in Accra, Ghana.
The event was however canceled at the last moment notwithstanding the mammoth crowd that already assembled from all over Ghana and Africa. However, the three out of the four main speakers who were in Ghana already for the event; Prof Lumumba, Dr Arikana, and my humble self, granted a press interview to expatiate on the purpose of the Convention, which was mainly to start an African conversation that will give African youths hope.
Africa as the second largest and second most populous continent in the world, with a population of over 1.4 billion people, is home to a youthful, and dynamic workforce with the largest concentration of working age population of about 1.1 billion people, which when combined with the abundance of huge natural resources ranging from minerals to over 874 million hectares of arable land for for agricultural revolution, positions Africa as a key player in the global economy.
Unfortunately, Africa’s growth and development will continue to appear as an impossible dream if we do not deal with the only challenge facing Africa – leadership failure.
To paraphrase Late Prof Achebe’s ageless words on Nigeria, ‘the trouble with Africa is simply and squarely leadership problem,’ caused mainly by the unwillingness of African leaders to rise to their leadership responsibilities.
This is a point I’ve heard Prof. Lumumba make continuously. Governments in most African nations have become gigantic criminal enterprises where the citizens, especially our youths who have the talent and energy, to lead the world in technology, health, and other areas, have watched their leaders shamelessly convert public wealth that should be used for a greater Africa, turned into private pockets. This criminal style of leadership tradition must be dismantled in order to guarantee the youths a future.
The fate of Africa is in our hands; especially, in the hands of our youths. We can ignite the long overdue emancipation of the African continent, by adding our voices to the need for change, but more importantly, by committing to ending Africa’s leadership morass.
A brighter future for Africa is possible. -PO
The specific reasons behind the government’s decision to cancel the event were not detailed in the provided context.
However, the abruptness of the cancellation and the prior approval of the event suggest a complex situation that left attendees and organizers alike in a state of dismay.
