Professor Akua Opokua Britwum of the University of Cape Coast has said Pan-Africanism must address patriarchal exploitation to achieve Africa’s true liberation.
Speaking at the opening of the Fifth Pan-African Congress 80th anniversary on November 18 in Accra, she argued that patriarchy and capitalism work hand in hand to limit women’s opportunities and deepen economic inequalities.
“Patriarchy allows capitalism to exploit us in ways that we are blinded by norms and values, but it’s more insidious to our debate and our conditions,” Prof Britwum said. She emphasized that solutions must center on social reproduction, the daily work that sustains humanity.
“We want to confront commodification of our very existence as human beings. Because the only way patriarchy survives is by protecting the commodification of how we reproduce the human race.”
The event, organized by the Accra-based Pan-African Progressive Front (PPF), gathered scholars, activists, and political leaders to reaffirm the Pan-African vision. Participants discussed concrete steps toward reparations and sustainable development, aiming to confront both historical injustices and contemporary global exploitation.
