At the 38th African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, President John Dramani Mahama urged for collective action to secure reparations for Africans and people of African descent.
Speaking at the launch of the AU’s 2025 theme, “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations,” Mr. Mahama stressed the need for stronger legal and institutional mechanisms to turn the conversation on reparations into tangible action.
The initiative is in line with the AU’s Agenda 2063 vision for an integrated and prosperous Africa.
It seeks to mobilise political will, foster partnerships, and address historical injustices such as slavery, colonialism, apartheid, and neo-colonial exploitation, which have contributed to ongoing economic and social disparities.
President Mahama highlighted the 2023 Accra Reparations Conference as a significant step in advancing advocacy and policy frameworks.
He underscored that reparations require the involvement of European nations, regional bodies, the African diaspora, civil society, academia, and the private sector.
Reflecting on the lasting impact of the transatlantic slave trade, which forcibly displaced over 12.5 million Africans and caused countless deaths.
He called for urgent action to combat systemic discrimination and racial prejudice and reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to the reparations movement in pursuit of a more just and equitable future.
