Development Cannot Be Sustained When Food Producers Remain Among the Poorest Citizens – Dr. Kwesi Pratt Jnr. ‎

Veteran journalist and social commentator, Dr. Kwesi Pratt Jnr., has cautioned that Africa’s development cannot be sustained when the people who produce the food remain among the poorest citizens.

‎Dr. Kwesi Pratt Jnr. made the remarks on Day Two of the 15th Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Lectures, held under the theme, “Kwame Nkrumah, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow: Perspectives on Constitutionalism, Development and Pan-Africanism,” at the University of Cape Coast in the Central Region.

‎The lecture also saw Dr. Kwesi Pratt Jnr. conferred with an Honorary Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.), honoris causa, by the University of Cape Coast. 

‎He emphasized that education must go beyond the acquisition of certificates, stressing the need for the educational system to cultivate scientific competence, critical thinking, creativity, technical skills and a sense of public responsibility.

‎Dr. Pratt further called on universities to transform themselves into centres of African research, innovation and technological production to help address the continent’s development challenges.

‎He also stressed the need to strengthen public institutions, warning that excessive political patronage and administrative weaknesses could undermine even the most visionary development plans.

‎On regional integration, Dr. Pratt called on African countries to deepen their economic and political cooperation while building interconnected railway systems, energy networks, digital infrastructure and industrial corridors across the continent.

‎He said Africa must also develop common strategies on natural resources, climate negotiations, public health and emerging technologies.

‎According to him, the continent must actively participate in artificial intelligence, renewable energy, technology and the digital economy—not merely as a consumer of foreign inventions, but as a producer of knowledge and technology.

‎He further called for greater accountability from continental institutions to African citizens.

‎Dr. Pratt also argued that Pan-Africanism must not remain an agreement among heads of state alone, but should involve workers, women, young people, intellectuals, artists and members of the African diaspora.

‎Dr. Kwesi Pratt Jnr. said Africa’s development agenda must therefore prioritize human welfare, institutional strength, technological advancement and greater continental cooperation if the continent is to achieve sustainable and inclusive development.

‎Sompaonline.com// Eric Annan

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