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'Days of Top-Down Approach Are Over': Professor Says Ahead of G20 in South Africa
'Days of Top-Down Approach Are Over': Professor Says Ahead of G20 in South Africa
Sputnik Africa
As African countries gain a voice in global governance, the G20 summit, hosted in South Africa for the first time and a historic Pan-African conference in... 19.11.2025, Sputnik Africa
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2025-11-19T17:27+0100
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“Days of Top-Down Approach Are Over”: Professor Says Ahead of G20 in South Africa
Sputnik Africa
As African countries gain a voice in global governance, the G20 summit, hosted in South Africa for the first time and a historic Pan-African conference in Ghana, forges the vision to ensure that voices speak for justice, sovereignty, and an economic future designed by Africa itself.
Ahead of the annual G20 summit, which will be held in South Africa—a historic first for the continent—Pan-African Frequency spoke with Professor Ronney Ncwadi, full Professor of Economics at Nelson Mandela University. He elaborated on what this means for Africa’s voice on the world stage, highlighted key issues such as climate justice and economic equity that must be prioritized, and explained why this summit represents both a symbolic and strategic turning point for every nation in the Pan-African world.Simultaneously, the momentum on the global stage is being matched by a powerful resurgence of grassroots and intellectual Pan-Africanism. Accra, Ghana is hosting the 80th anniversary of the Fifth Pan-African Congress, an event that honors the historic gathering which played a crucial role in the African decolonization movement. His Excellency, President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana, while officially opening the event, emphasized the significance of honoring the legacy of the 1945 Manchester Congress that accelerated Africa's liberation, and a call to action for a modern, relevant Pan-Africanism.Tune in to listen to the full conversation with our guests on the Pan African Frequency podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.In addition to the website, you can also catch our episodes on Telegram.► You can also listen to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Deezer, Pocket Casts, Afripods, and Podcast Addict► Check out all the episodes of Pan-African Frequency
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'Days of Top-Down Approach Are Over': Professor Says Ahead of G20 in South Africa
As African countries gain a voice in global governance, the G20 summit, hosted in South Africa for the first time and a historic Pan-African conference in Ghana, forges the vision to ensure that voices speak for justice, sovereignty, and an economic future designed by Africa itself.
Ahead of the annual G20 summit, which will be held in South Africa—a historic first for the continent—Pan-African Frequency spoke with Professor Ronney Ncwadi, full Professor of Economics at Nelson Mandela University. He elaborated on what this means for Africa’s voice on the world stage, highlighted key issues such as climate justice and economic equity that must be prioritized, and explained why this summit represents both a symbolic and strategic turning point for every nation in the Pan-African world.
The AU, which represents over 50 countries in Africa, is making one of the single largest regional blocks in the G20. And that gives us now an immense opportunity. And of course, gives us a political weight to advocate for issues that relate to developing the world, such as multilateral reforms, issues of fair trade with Africa, issues of climate justice [...] So we are given as Africa an opportunity now to say, let us do this together. Don't think, for us, the days of the top-down approach are now over. It's a time when we enter into the negotiation space as equal partners, where we can together resolve Africa's problem, not just only Africa but the world's problem together. [....] We need to look at South-South Cooperation where the AU can broker specific G20 working groups or initiatives, and focus specifically on South-South collaboration, leveraging BRICS expertise[....] Africa's soil is rich with minerals and natural resources, and we need therefore to add value to such national resources to enrich Africa and its peoples such that the world around us depends on us rather than us depending on them, because they take our minerals and manufacture them, add value and sell them back to Africa. Let us do that thing locally in Africa and let the world depend on Africa,” the professor emphasized.
Simultaneously, the momentum on the global stage is being matched by a powerful resurgence of grassroots and intellectual Pan-Africanism. Accra, Ghana is hosting the 80th anniversary of the Fifth Pan-African Congress, an event that honors the historic gathering which played a crucial role in the African decolonization movement. His Excellency, President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana, while officially opening the event, emphasized the significance of honoring the legacy of the 1945 Manchester Congress that accelerated Africa's liberation, and a call to action for a modern, relevant Pan-Africanism.
“The Fifth Pan-African Congress became the turning point that accelerated the liberation of our continent from colonial domination, insisted that Africa must take its destiny into its own hands, that colonialism was no longer tolerable, and that the African people must be free to govern themselves [....] we are not merely commemorating history, we are renewing a covenant, a covenant of responsibility, a covenant of unity, a covenant to build an Africa worthy of the sacrifices of those who came before us [...] Africans will determine Africa's destiny, not by external forces, not by global markets, but by the people. Not by geopolitical competition, but by courage, creativity, and the unity of the African people. And so let this anniversary ignite in us a renewed sense of purpose. Let it strengthen our resolve to build a prosperous, peaceful, united, and dignified Africa. Let it remind us that the struggle continues and that each generation must rise to the core of history,” the president expressed.
Tune in to listen to the full conversation with our guests on the Pan African Frequency podcast, brought to you by
Sputnik Africa.
In addition to the website, you can also catch our episodes on
Telegram.► Check out all the episodes of Pan-African Frequency 
