Mahama Urges Urgent Action on African Reparations at AU Forum

President John Dramani Mahama has urged African Union (AU) member states and continental leaders to move beyond declarations and empower institutions tasked with pursuing reparative justice for Africa.

Speaking at the opening of the 13th AU High-Level Delegation Dialogue on Democracy, Governance and Human Rights in Accra on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, Mahama welcomed the AU Executive Council’s approval of terms of reference for both the AU Commission of Experts on Reparations and the AU Reference Group of Legal Experts.

“We must now move swiftly to personalise these instruments,” he said. “We must empower these bodies with the resources, visibility, and mandate to lead us on this noble journey of truth, justice, and restitution. Let this not be another declaration left on paper; let it be a living mandate for action.”

His comments come amid growing demands across the continent for former colonial powers to compensate African countries for the deep scars left by colonisation, slavery, and systemic exploitation. President Mahama had previously made similar remarks during the AU Summit in Addis Ababa in February.

On Tuesday, he also emphasized that democracy must be people-centered, not just institution-based. “Democracy cannot thrive in an atmosphere of fear or repression,” he asserted, noting that political inclusion and education must serve as foundational elements of state building.

Earlier in the session, Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, stressed the relevance of the event’s theme: “Justice, Rights, Reparations, and State Building.” According to him, “Sustainable development and lasting peace must be rooted in fairness, inclusivity, and the redress of historical injustices.”

“As we contemplate the legacies of enslavement, colonialism, apartheid, and systemic exclusion,” Ablakwa added, “let us seize this opportunity to collaborate and envision a future where restorative justice becomes a tangible reality, not just rhetorical discourse.”

On the final day of the forum, Kwesi Pratt Jnr, a member of the Coordinating Committee of the Pan-African Progressive Front (PPF), made a compelling case for a deeper understanding of reparations. Pratt, who recently launched a book on the subject, argued that no amount of financial compensation could undo the lasting damage of slavery and colonisation.

“The historic injustices inflicted upon Africa cannot be reduced to mere financial payouts,” he said. “True reparations require the restructuring of global power dynamics.”

The event drew prominent figures from across the continent and beyond, including former heads of state, AU officials, ministers, ambassadors, and other dignitaries, as they deliberated on how Africa can achieve justice through reparations and democratic reforms rooted in equity.