Former Jamaican Prime Minister P.J. Patterson is urging Africa, the Caribbean and the global African diaspora to strengthen their cooperation and pool their economic and diplomatic influence, warning that other countries will continue to benefit from their resources and talent if they fail to act collectively.
Patterson made the appeal while addressing the Third Africa in Transition Conference in Accra, Ghana, held from October 8 to 10. He called for the establishment of a Global Africa Coalition that would bring together governments, regional organisations, financial institutions, universities, businesses, civil society groups, cultural institutions and diaspora communities under a coordinated programme of action.
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“Above all, in a turbulent world, unity is about more than historical kinship, it is power,” Patterson told delegates, arguing that closer cooperation was increasingly important as the international system faced uncertainty and developing countries confronted growing economic and political pressures.
The former prime minister said Africa and the Caribbean possess complementary strengths that could support greater prosperity. Africa has significant mineral resources, agricultural potential and a rapidly growing population, while the Caribbean offers strategic geographic positioning, marine resources, specialised services and internationally recognised cultural industries.
However, he warned that both regions risk remaining suppliers of raw materials, labour, data and consumer markets while other economies capture much of the resulting value.
“As artificial intelligence and the knowledge economy reshape power, Africa and the Caribbean cannot remain suppliers of raw materials, labour, data and markets while value is captured elsewhere,” he said, calling for greater investment in production, innovation, education and technological capacity.
Patterson also highlighted the importance of reparatory justice, arguing that efforts to address the legacy of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade should extend beyond formal recognition to include practical measures that improve people’s lives.
He said reparatory justice should encompass education, healthcare, economic empowerment, technology, cultural restoration and greater control by African and African-descended communities over their development.
The former Jamaican leader pointed to the United Nations General Assembly’s March 2026 resolution recognising the trafficking and enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity as an example of what coordinated diplomatic action can achieve. The resolution received 123 votes in favour, with 52 abstentions and three votes against.
Patterson urged Africa, Caribbean governments and their international allies to continue pursuing the issue at diplomatic forums, including the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting scheduled for Antigua and Barbuda in November.
He also emphasised the economic value of cultural industries, including music, film, literature, fashion, sports and cuisine. These sectors, he argued, can generate employment, create intellectual property and strengthen the international influence of African and Caribbean societies.
Patterson acknowledged initiatives such as the African Export-Import Bank’s expansion into the Caribbean and the AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forums as efforts to build stronger commercial links between the two regions. He called for these initiatives to be supported by lasting institutions and mechanisms capable of producing measurable results.
He further urged stakeholders to build on the African Union’s recognition of the diaspora as Africa’s Sixth Region, turning shared heritage into sustained cooperation in trade, education, investment and technology.
The conference, organised by the Africa Caribbean Centre for Development, brought together academics, policymakers, entrepreneurs and civil society representatives under the theme of transforming Global Africa through education, investment, innovation and partnerships.
Patterson concluded that closer institutional ties and coordinated action would be essential to ensuring that Africa and the Caribbean gain a greater share of the benefits generated by their people, resources and cultural contributions.
