Ghana’s President, John Dramani Mahama, has emphasised that Africa’s call for reparative justice is no longer a whisper but a unified demand grounded in historical truth, moral clarity, and our unwavering commitment to dignity.

He said this at the seventh Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the African Union in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.
Speaking in his capacity as the African Union (AU) Champion for Reparations, President Mahama outlined the significant strides taken by the AU and its member states in advancing the 2025 AU Theme of the Year: Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations.
He reiterated that reparations have evolved from being a matter of public discourse to becoming a continental policy imperative.
“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.”
The President welcomed the recent decision by the AU Executive Council to extend the reparation’s focus for a full decade, from 2026 to 2036, describing it as a critical opportunity for the Union to maintain momentum and design robust strategies for implementation.
“This undoubtedly affords us, as a Union, the opportunity to sustain the momentum for the realisation of this noble cause,” he said, adding that resource mobilisation at both the domestic and international levels will be essential for success.
Mahama also called for global solidarity in the struggle for justice, appealing to the international community to join Africa in shaping a more just and equitable world for the sons and daughters of the motherland.

“Restitution to the African, therefore, is restoration of our full human dignity. We cannot speak of development without identity or speak of unity without acknowledging the erasure that has fractured our heritage,” he said.

He stressed that reparations are essential not just for historical redress, but for Africa’s future development. Financial compensation, he said, would empower African nations to modernise infrastructure, invest in healthcare and education, and build self-sufficient, competitive economies.
“Africa’s true independence hinges on securing reparations. Only through reparations can African nations rebuild their economies and correct centuries of exploitation.”

Yet, he acknowledged the daunting nature of the challenge ahead. “None of the former colonial powers will willingly agree to pay these substantial sums. Historical injustices have been systematically ignored, and the political will to rectify them remains lacking.”

President Mahama underscored the necessity of a unified African voice and strengthened partnerships, particularly with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), which has also long championed reparative justice.

He also announced that Ghana and Togo will co-sponsor a high-level event on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025 to further amplify Africa’s reparations agenda on the global stage.

He outlined Africa’s demands to include; financial compensation for centuries of forced labor, violence, and resource plunder. Technology transfer to support industrial development and economic sovereignty and transparent reparations funds dedicated to education, cultural restoration, and economic empowerment.

“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,” President Mahama said, pledging Ghana’s unwavering support for the journey toward “The Africa We Want.”