In a bold and uncompromising address, Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama declared that Africa’s quest for reparative justice is no longer a subdued appeal but a resolute demand rooted in historical truth and moral urgency. Speaking as the African Union Champion for Reparations, Mahama emphasized that full restitution is a rightful claim, not a plea.
Delivering a progress report on the African Union’s 2025 Theme, “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations,” at the 7th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting in Malabo, President Mahama made it clear that the time for symbolic gestures is over. “We reject handouts and empty humanitarian gestures. What we insist upon is full and comprehensive restitution for centuries of theft,” he stated.
The President announced with satisfaction that the AU Executive Council has extended the reparations agenda from 2026 to 2036. “This undoubtedly affords us, as a Union, the opportunity to sustain the momentum for the realisation of this noble cause,” he said, urging all African governments to move reparations from public discourse to state policy.
“Reparations must shift from public discourse to state policy. Every African government must prioritise reparations as a national project, integrating them into diplomatic agendas and legal frameworks,” Mahama urged, stressing the need for a unified front through the AU and regional bodies.
Highlighting the transformative power of reparations, Mahama argued that restitution is integral to development and identity restoration. “We cannot speak of development without identity or speak of unity without acknowledging the erasure that has fractured our heritage,” he explained.
He connected the call for reparations directly to African sovereignty, asserting, “Africa’s true independence hinges on securing reparations… Only through reparations can African nations rebuild their economies to a modern, competitive level.” He noted that such funds would go toward infrastructure, education, healthcare, and bridging industrialization gaps.
Yet, he acknowledged the challenge ahead. “None of the former colonial powers will willingly agree to pay these substantial sums… Overcoming this resistance requires persistent advocacy and international pressure,” he warned.
President Mahama called for a global coalition of solidarity, especially with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and confirmed that Ghana and Togo will co-sponsor a high-level event at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025. The event will aim to reinforce efforts toward reparative justice and long-denied closure.
He passionately concluded, “As we do more to correct historical wrongs, we are reasserting our full humanity. We are reaffirming our sovereignty. We are reigniting the flame of dignity that has always burned within the African soul.”
“This is not a plea, it is a rightful claim for the restitution of dignity, wealth, and opportunity denied to Africa for centuries,” the President declared.
