"Africa’s call for reparative justice is no longer a whisper - it is a unified demand grounded in historical truth, moral clarity and our unwavering commitment to dignity." That was President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana addressing the 7th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the African Union in Malabo on the 2025 Africa Union.

It was on the theme, “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations,” he said, adding, "We reaffirm our shared resolve to correct historical wrongs and injustices through restitution, healing and holistic systemic transformation.”

In his inspirational progress report, President Mahama observed that notable progress had been achieved by the AU Commission and Member States in implementing the theme.

"As we implement the 2025 Theme of the Year on Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through reparations, we reaffirm our shared resolve to correct historical wrongs and injustices through restitution, healing and holistic systemic transformation.

“This undoubtedly affords us, as a Union, the opportunity to sustain the momentum for the realisation of this noble cause, as well as map out well-thought-out strategies to mobilise adequate resources to champion implementation of the theme domestically,” President Mahama emphasised.

He therefore expressed satisfaction with the recent decision by the Executive Council to extend the reparations agenda from 2026 to 2036 in order to sustain the momentum towards achieving the desired objectives.

“This undoubtedly affords us, as a Union, the opportunity to sustain the momentum for the realisation of this noble cause, as well as map out well-thought-out strategies to mobilise adequate resources to champion the implementation of the theme domestically,” President Mahama stressed.

He called for global partnership from people of African descent on the continent and in the Diaspora to complement the efforts of the AU to ensure success in the reparations campaign.

President Mahama stressed on the importance of a unified African narrative on the global stage and encouraged robust partnerships, particularly with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

“We call upon all nations, within and beyond Africa, to partner with us in shaping a more just and equitable world for the sons and daughters of the motherland.”

"There is a deep connection between reparations and African identity and dignity. Restitution to the African, therefore, is restoration of our full human dignity,” he said.

He explained that the movement seeks “to speak of history on African terms, of healing deep civilisational wounds and of restoring to African peoples our rightful agency in shaping our past, present and future.”

President Mahama underlined the necessity of reparations for African progress and unity, arguing that, “We cannot speak of development without identity or speak of unity without acknowledging the erasure that has fractured our heritage.”

He further announced that Ghana and Togo will co-sponsor a high-level event on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September 2025 “to further bolster efforts at achieving the justice and closure which has eluded us for centuries.”

“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,” assuring the Union of Ghana’s continued support for this agenda towards “The Africa We Want.”

The sentiments of the Ghanaian leader are in consonance with the objectives of the Pan-African Progressive Front (PPF) which believes the spirit of Pan-Africanism is key to driving the reparations narrative.

The PPF recently opened its headquarters in the heart of the Ghanaian capital, Accra, after making its intentions clear at a well-attended inaugural online conference in May this year.

While President Mahama’s address marks a significant step forward, the path to reparations remains arduous. Former colonial powers have consistently resisted acknowledging their debts, much less paying them. The vast sums extracted from Africa through slavery and colonialism formed the foundation of many Western economies – wealth they are reluctant to surrender.

Yet true African independence hinges on reparations. These funds could transform the continent’s economic landscape, enabling modernization, infrastructure development, and technological advancement to finally break the chains of underdevelopment.

The movement must now transition from civil society advocacy to formal state policy. Every African government must institutionalize reparations as a national priority, with dedicated offices and action plans.

Reparations must take multiple forms, not only in monetary terms.

This is not about charity – it’s about justice. As Mahama declared, it’s about restoring what was stolen: our wealth, our dignity, and our rightful place in history. The time for whispers is over; Africa’s demand for reparations now rings loud and clear across the global stage.

SSD/MA

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